Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana)
Rufous-naped Lark

Rufous-naped Lark

Mirafra africana

The Rufous-naped Lark, or Rufous-naped Bush Lark, is a robust and fairly large species of lark, notable for its rufous outer wings and short erectile crest. The bird's plumage is a tapestry of hues and markings that vary both individually and geographically. It possesses a straight lower mandible and a longer, curved upper mandible, adding to its distinctive profile.

Identification Tips

Adult Rufous-naped Larks are streaked along the upper parts, with a creamy-buff eyebrow that blends into the lore. Their rufous flight feathers are conspicuous, especially in flight. The hindcrown and nape are streaked, with the margins varying in color. The underwing coverts are rufous, and the tail is dark brown with variable outer web coloring. The throat is unmarked, while the upper breast is pale rufous with darker streaks and spots.

Habitat

This lark favors bushy grassland or sparsely wooded savannah, as well as marsh fringes, woodland clearings, and the ecotone of woodland and grassland. It is found from sea level in the south to about 3,000 meters near the equator.

Distribution

The Rufous-naped Lark has a vast but fragmented range across sub-Saharan Africa. It is increasingly fragmented in the north, with a declining population, while the southern African population remains stable except in heavily cultivated or urbanized areas.

Behaviour

The Rufous-naped Lark is sedentary, territorial, and monogamous. It is often sluggish and can be approached closely. Males are known for their bold and melodious whistled phrases, often accompanied by wing-fluttering displays from prominent perches.

Song & Calls

The lark's song is a clear, whistled phrase of three to five syllables, which may be rendered as "tseep-tseeoo" or "teeoo-teewee." It also produces a "prrrrt" or "phrrrp" rattle when fluttering its wings between phrases. Alarm calls include "peewit" and "tweekiree."

Breeding

The Rufous-naped Lark is monogamous, with males performing courtship feeding. Nests are well-concealed cups of dry grass, often with a grass dome, and contain 2 to 3 eggs. Incubation lasts about 14 to 15 days, and both parents feed the chicks.

Diet and Feeding

This lark forages at the bases of grass tufts, on bare ground, and between ungulate droppings. Its diet includes various insects, spiders, solifugids, millipedes, earthworms, and occasionally seeds.

Conservation status

The Rufous-naped Lark is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, certain populations, particularly in the north, are experiencing declines due to habitat fragmentation.

Rufous-naped Lark Sounds



Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Rufous-naped Larks on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Larks

A photo of a Greater Hoopoe-Lark (Alaemon alaudipes)

Greater Hoopoe-Lark

Alaemon alaudipes
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
778
Great bird recording
For a while I’ve been trying to find an app to easily record bird lists and day out and struggled to find one that I like. Birda is great for this, straightforward and a great community!
Unbridled Discoveries
Great app for bird lovers
I love this app! It’s a wonderful way to track birding sessions, and also connect you with fellow birders. I also really like the unidentified bird section, it’s a great community tool to help figure out what a never-before-seen bird is!
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Anonymous
The best bird logging app
Birda is honestly the best bird logging app I have seen. I love all the features it has from being able to do a session and log all the birds you see in one sitting, to being able to connect with other birders from all over the globe!
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.