Williams's lark

Williams's lark (Mirafra williamsi) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Discovered in 1955, much of its life and ecology is still a mystery to ornithology.[2]

Williams's lark
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Mirafra
Species:
M. williamsi
Binomial name
Mirafra williamsi
Macdonald, 1956

Taxonomy and systematics

The bird is named after John George Williams (1913–1997) a British ornithologist who was curator of the Coryndon Museum in Nairobi, Kenya (now called the National Museums of Kenya).[3] Alternate names for Williams's lark include Marsabit lark and Williams's bush lark.[4]

Distribution and habitat

In general, the natural habitat of M. williamsi is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Its range is restricted to northern Kenya where it is found in two disjunct populations:

One population is located north of Marsabit, in the Didi Galgalla desert, a region marked by plains of rocky, red lava soils and patches of short-grass and bushes.[2]

The other inhabits a particular area (elevated between 600 m and 1,350 m) lying between Isiolo and Garba Tula. It has even, unbroken communities of Barleria shrubs.[2]

Behaviour and ecology

The males of the species perform long, drawn-out, conspicuous song-flights above their territories after the rains at dawn, making them easy to find at this time.[2]

Food and feeding

Williams's larks consume various seeds and insects.[2]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2018). "Mirafra williamsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Compilers: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart; Mike Evans; Pete Robertson; Malcolm Starkey; Andy Symes; Contributor: B Finch (2008). "Williams's Lark – BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart, Alison Stattersfield. BirdLife International. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  3. Beolens, Bo (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women commemorated in the common names of birds. London: Christopher Helm. p. 368. ISBN 0-7136-6647-1.
  4. "Mirafra williamsi – Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-10.


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