Larks (Alaudidae)
Somali Short-toed Lark (Calandrella somalica) - HBW 9, p. 585
French: Alouette roussâtre
German: Somalilerche
Spanish: Terrera Somalí
Other common names: Rufous Short-toed Lark; Athi Lark/Short-toed Lark (athensis)
Taxonomy: Alaudula somalica Sharpe, 1895, Haud, north Somalia.
May form a superspecies with C. rufescens, with which sometimes treated as conspecific, and C. raytal. Distinctive race athensis sometimes considered a separate species. Described race vulpecula (from N Somalia) considered synonymous with nominate. Birds recorded in C Kenya of uncertain racial identity, tentatively included in megaensis. Four subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- perconfusa C. M. N. White, 1960 - NW Somalia.
- somalica (Sharpe, 1895) - E Ethiopia and N Somalia.
- megaensis Benson, 1946 - S Ethiopia and N & C Kenya.
- athensis (Sharpe, 1900) - S Kenya (S from Nairobi National Park and Athi Plains) and N Tanzania.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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rear and side views as it creeps through the short grass Locality Heddalo Lake, Liben Plains, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp megaensis)
Martin Kennewell 31 October 2010 1 year ago 23 sec 4.4 -
Several birds on the ground, feeding on seeds. Locality Negele Boran, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp megaensis)
Josep del Hoyo 11 December 2005 5 years ago 47 sec 4.4 -
A bird on the ground, checking the sky for predators Locality Negele Boran, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp megaensis)
Josep del Hoyo 11 December 2005 5 years ago 37 sec 4.3 -
A bird on the ground and flying away. Locality Negele Boran, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp megaensis)
Josep del Hoyo 11 December 2005 5 years ago 31 sec 4.2 -
A group feeding on the ground, one of the birds checks the sky for predators. Locality Negele Boran, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp megaensis)
Josep del Hoyo 11 December 2005 5 years ago 42 sec 4.1 -
creeping furtively through short grass Locality Heddalo Lake, Liben Plains, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp megaensis)
Martin Kennewell 31 October 2010 1 year ago 38 sec 4
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Known locally as Athi Short-toed Lark
Locality Arusha Region, Tanzania (ssp athensis)
M P Goodey 1 January 2006 28 weeks ago 4 -
A male Somali Short-toed Lark which had just landed after a 25 minute aerial display.
Locality Liben Plains, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Christian Boix Hinzen 14 November 2009 2 years ago 3
- No sound recordings available yet
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