The eastern clapper lark (''Mirafra fasciolata'') is a small

passerine A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped'), which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines are distinguished from other orders of birds by th ...

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

which breeds in southern Africa. It derives its name from the wing clapping which forms part of its display flight.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Eastern clapper lark was originally placed in the genus ''

Alauda ''Alauda'' is a genus of larks found across much of Europe, Asia and in the mountains of north Africa, and one of the species (the Raso lark) endemic to the islet of Raso in the Cape Verde Islands. Further, at least two additional species are ...

''. This species and the Cape clapper lark were formerly considered conspecific as the clapper lark (''M. apiata'') until split in 2009. The Eastern clapper lark and the Cape clapper lark are regarded as forming a superspecies with the

flappet lark The flappet lark (''Mirafra rufocinnamomea'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae, widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa. The name flappet originates from the distinctive wing flapping sound made during its breeding season. Taxonomy an ...

, which is found further to the north. Damara clapper lark is an alternate name for the Cape clapper lark.

Subspecies

Five subspecies are recognized: * ''M. f. reynoldsi'' - Benson &

Irwin Irwin may refer to: Places ;United States * Irwin, California * Irwin, Idaho * Irwin, Illinois * Irwin, Iowa * Irwin, Nebraska * Irwin, Ohio * Irwin, Pennsylvania * Irwin, South Carolina * Irwin County, Georgia * Irwin Township, Venango Co ...

, 1965: Found in northern Namibia, northern Botswana and south-western Zambia * ''M. f. jappi'' -

Traylor Traylor is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Austin Traylor (born 1993), American football player * Bill Traylor (1853–1949), American artist * Chet D. Traylor (born 1945), American jurist * Craig Lamar Traylor (born 1989), A ...

, 1962: Found in western Namibia * ''M. f. nata'' -

Smithers Smithers is a surname of English origin. It derives from the Middle English term "smyther", referring to a metalsmith, and is thus related to the common occupational surname Smith. The name Smither is related. People *Alan Smithers (born 1938) ...

, 1955: Found in north-eastern Botswana * ''M. f. damarensis'' - Sharpe, 1875: Found in northern and central Namibia, western and central Botswana * ''M. f. fasciolata'' - (

Sundevall Carl Jakob Sundevall (22 October 1801, Högestad – 2 February 1875) was a Swedish zoologist. Sundevall studied at Lund University, where he became a Ph.D. in 1823. After traveling to East Asia, he studied medicine, graduating as Doctor of Me ...

, 1850): Found in south-central Botswana, northern and central South Africa

Description

This

lark Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. Larks have a cosmopolitan distribution with the largest number of species occurring in Africa. Only a single species, the horned lark, occurs in North America, and only Horsfield's bush lark oc ...

is a 15-cm-long bird, with a brown crown, rich rufous underparts, and a strong bill. It has brown upperparts (greyer in the north of its range). Its call is an ascending "''pooooeeeee''".

Distribution and habitat

The eastern clapper lark is found in much of the drier parts of southern Africa in Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa. It is a species of open grassland and savannah.

Behaviour and ecology

The eastern clapper lark is a skulking species, difficult to find when not displaying. It is not gregarious, and individuals tend to be seen in dry habitats feeding on the ground on seeds and insects. The display commences with an ascending flight with wing flapping. It then parachutes down with trailing legs.

References

*Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton, ''SASOL Birds of Southern Africa'', {{Taxonbar, from=Q10794078

eastern clapper lark The eastern clapper lark (''Mirafra fasciolata'') is a small passerine bird which breeds in southern Africa. It derives its name from the wing clapping which forms part of its display flight. Taxonomy and systematics The Eastern clapper lark was ...

Birds of Southern Africa