The Malabar lark, or Malabar crested lark (Galerida malabarica) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in western India.

Malabar lark
A pair of Galerida malabarica from Mangaon, Maharashtra, India
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Galerida
Species:
G. malabarica
Binomial name
Galerida malabarica
(Scopoli, 1786)
Synonyms
  • Alauda malabarica

Taxonomy and systematics

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Originally, the Malabar lark was classified in the genus Alauda before being moved to its present genus. Also, some authorities have considered the Thekla lark to be a subspecies of the Malabar lark.[2]

Description

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This is a smallish lark, slightly smaller than the Eurasian skylark. It has a long spiky erectile crest. It is greyer than the skylark, and lacks the white wing and tail edges of that species, which is a winter visitor to India.

It is very similar to the crested lark, which breeds in northern India. The Malabar lark is smaller and dark-streaked reddish brown in plumage, whereas the crested lark is grey. The belly is white. The sexes are similar.

Sykes's lark is another Indian relative that also has reddish-brown plumage, but is smaller, shorter-billed, with a stiff upright crest and has plain rufous underparts.

Distribution and habitat

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The Malabar lark is found in western India. It is a common bird of open country, cultivation and scrub, often at some altitude.

Behaviour and ecology

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The Malabar lark is a sedentary breeding bird that nests on the ground, laying two or three eggs. Its food is seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season.

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References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Galerida malabarica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22717391A111112359. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22717391A111112359.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Galerida theklae - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-08.