Larks (Alaudidae)
Large-billed Lark (Galerida magnirostris) - HBW 9, p. 598
French: Cochevis à gros bec
German: Dickschnabellerche
Spanish: Cogujada Picogorda
Other common names: (Southern) Thick-billed Lark(!)
Taxonomy: Alauda magnirostris Stephens, 1826, near Cape Town, South Africa.
Has sometimes been placed in a monotypic genus Calendula. Has been considered to form a superspecies with G. modesta, also including Pseudalaemon fremantlii when that placed in present genus, but differences appear too great for such treatment to be warranted. Geographical variation largely clinal, with clines of increasing body size and decreasing bill size from W to E. Birds from Lesotho sometimes separated as race montivaga, but probably better merged with harei. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- sedentaria Clancey, 1993 - Karoo areas of extreme SW Namibia and W South Africa (E to Griqualand West).
- magnirostris (Stephens, 1826) - winter rainfall area of SW South Africa.
- harei (Roberts, 1924) - W grasslands of South Africa and Lesotho.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
-
An adult perched on a low bush and giving its alternate song Locality West Coast National Park, Western Cape Province, South Africa (ssp magnirostris)
Greg Baker 24 September 2002 38 weeks ago 20 sec 4.3 -
A bird on the ground, feeding Locality Karoo, South Africa (ssp sedentaria)
Helmut Schenkel Brunner 31 July 2003 5 years ago 18 sec 3.7 -
A bird drinking. Locality Puffodder, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (ssp sedentaria)
Helmut Schenkel Brunner 31 July 2003 5 years ago 24 sec 3.7 -
A bird on the ground Locality Lesotho (ssp montivaga)
Francesc Capdevila i Torr... 14 October 2002 8 years ago 27 sec 2.4
-
On the ground
Locality Mountain Zebra National Park, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Guy Poisson 15 November 2012 22 weeks ago 3.8 -
Front view.
Locality Sani Pass, Lesotho (ssp harei)
Fran Trabalon 10 October 2008 1 year ago 3.6 -
A side view.
Locality Sani Pass, Lesotho (ssp harei)
Fran Trabalon 10 November 2008 1 year ago 3.5 -
Large-billed Lark singing
Locality South Africa
Philip Perry 7 February 2009 4 years ago 3.5 -
On a pole
Locality Bontebok National Park, Swellendam, Western Cape Province, South Africa
Guy Poisson 27 November 2012 22 weeks ago 3.3 -
Foraging on the ground
Locality Lesotho
Lindsay Hansch 23 October 2008 2 years ago 3
-
An adult bird giving its alternate song. Locality West Coast National Park, Western Cape Province, South Africa
(ssp magnirostris)
Greg Baker 24 September 2002 19 weeks ago 4
Email this page