The bird's common name and Latin binomial commemorate the British ornithologist John Sidney Ash.[2]
Descriptionedit
Ash's lark is typically 14 centimetres (5.5 in) in length. It has greyish-brown upperparts with paler edging to its mantle feathers, a buff-coloured underbelly and underparts with brownish streaks, a paler belly and vent, a light crest, and buff eyebrow stripes.[3]
Such a description is insufficient, however, since as with some other lark species it is difficult to definitively describe the bird without comparison to its close relatives. In the case of Ash's lark, it is smaller than the rufous-naped lark or the red-winged lark, and more greyish and marked on its mantle than either the singing lark (which has a thicker bill) or the pink-breasted lark (which has a pinkish breast).[3]
Population data of Ash's lark from recent decades has been greatly lacking. Political unrest has prevented accurate fieldwork in the region for many years.[3]
The only place known to be home to Ash's lark is a small area just north of Uarsciek in south-eastern Somalia, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Mogadishu. Even here where it is locally common, however, Ash's lark is easily overlooked because it shares the area with nine other species of lark, including both the red-winged lark and Somali long-billed lark. It is possible that Ash's lark is also present along the coast somewhat to the north of its known range since much of this land is little explored by ornithologists.[3]
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.
Behaviour and ecologyedit
Typical behaviour is to run across bare ground between bunches of grass prior to perching atop a tussock. It is threatened by habitat loss to coastal development.[3]
At present, little is known of Ash's lark's ecological relationships.[3]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mirafra ashi.
Wikispecies has information related to Mirafra ashi.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Mirafra ashi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22717049A94519282. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717049A94519282.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds. London: Christopher Helm. p. 30.
^ abcdefgCompilers: Phil Benstead, Jonathan Ekstrom; Sue Shutes; Malcolm Starkey; Joe Taylor (2008). "Ash's Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Stuart Butchart, Joe Taylor. BirdLife International. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
January 01, 1970
lark, mirafra, ashi, bushlark, species, lark, family, alaudidae, endemic, somalia, conservation, status, endangered, iucn, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, phylum, chordata, class, aves, order, passeriformes, family, alaudidae,. Ash s lark Mirafra ashi or Ash s bushlark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae endemic to Somalia Ash s lark Conservation status Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Alaudidae Genus Mirafra Species M ashi Binomial name Mirafra ashiColston 1982 Contents 1 Taxonomy and systematics 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour and ecology 5 ReferencesTaxonomy and systematics editThe bird s common name and Latin binomial commemorate the British ornithologist John Sidney Ash 2 Description editAsh s lark is typically 14 centimetres 5 5 in in length It has greyish brown upperparts with paler edging to its mantle feathers a buff coloured underbelly and underparts with brownish streaks a paler belly and vent a light crest and buff eyebrow stripes 3 Such a description is insufficient however since as with some other lark species it is difficult to definitively describe the bird without comparison to its close relatives In the case of Ash s lark it is smaller than the rufous naped lark or the red winged lark and more greyish and marked on its mantle than either the singing lark which has a thicker bill or the pink breasted lark which has a pinkish breast 3 Its songs have yet to be identified 3 Distribution and habitat editPopulation data of Ash s lark from recent decades has been greatly lacking Political unrest has prevented accurate fieldwork in the region for many years 3 The only place known to be home to Ash s lark is a small area just north of Uarsciek in south eastern Somalia about 80 kilometres 50 mi north of Mogadishu Even here where it is locally common however Ash s lark is easily overlooked because it shares the area with nine other species of lark including both the red winged lark and Somali long billed lark It is possible that Ash s lark is also present along the coast somewhat to the north of its known range since much of this land is little explored by ornithologists 3 Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland Behaviour and ecology editTypical behaviour is to run across bare ground between bunches of grass prior to perching atop a tussock It is threatened by habitat loss to coastal development 3 At present little is known of Ash s lark s ecological relationships 3 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mirafra ashi nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Mirafra ashi BirdLife International 2016 Mirafra ashi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22717049A94519282 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22717049A94519282 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Beolens Bo Watkins Michael 2003 Whose Bird Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds London Christopher Helm p 30 a b c d e f g Compilers Phil Benstead Jonathan Ekstrom Sue Shutes Malcolm Starkey Joe Taylor 2008 Ash s Lark BirdLife Species Factsheet Evaluators Stuart Butchart Joe Taylor BirdLife International Retrieved May 5 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ash 27s lark amp oldid 1193288173, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
