Spike-heeled Lark

It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Tanzania.

The Spike-heeled Lark is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Spike-heeled Lark (Chersomanes albofasciata) is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Chersomanes. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland. More

Distribution of Spike-heeled lark in southern Africa, based on statistical smoothing of the records from first SA Bird Atlas Project (© Animal Demography unit, University of Cape Town; smoothing by Birgit Erni and Francesca Little). Colours range from dark blue (most common) through to yellow (least common). See here for the latest distribution from the SABAP2. More

The Spike-heeled Lark is widespread on open areas, and is usually found in small, sociable family groups. This is a western bird, which has a longer and more curved beak than eastern birds. More

sampled from the Spike-heeled Lark so that scientists in South Africa can attempt to analyze the DNA of Tanzanian Spike-heeled Lark against will be declared a new species. If this is the case then it is possible that this lark will be the rarest bird in Africa. My month of research was an initial study of a bird of which little is known. In my research paper I have come up with several questions which I would like to pursue in greater detail. More

The Spike-heeled Lark is a small lark (15 cm) and is a common near endemic to southern Africa. It is also found in Angola and rarely as far north as Kenya. It inhabits sparse grassland, and is normally found in pairs or in small groups. More

Spike-heeled Lark, Tanzania, Oldonyosambu 23 Aug 2003 © John P Martin Very localised race beesleyi. on plains N of Arusha. More