Flappet Lark

Mirafra rufocinnamomea

Grassland. Brown upperparts; rufous head and wing edges; streaked back. Distinctive spurts of territorial wing-clapping in flight when breeding.

Larks

Not Endemic

Description

Common resident. Similar to [Eastern Clapper Lark]; best identified by territorial behaviour, different habitat and largely exclusive distribution. Pallid northwestern race M. r. smithersi (a) has shorter, stouter bill than rufous eastern race M. r. pintoi (b). Has a soft ‘tuee-tui’ call. Unobtrusive in non-breeding season. When breeding (early to late summer according to locality), male performs a high aerial cruise, making a thin, wispy call with bursts of clearly audible wing-claps, the sound a muffled ‘purrit-purrit, purrit-purrit’, like a ringing telephone. This is repeated after a pause; see illustration. Local variations occur in this flight pattern. Like other larks, may also ascend into wind to some height and then descend almost vertically before flying parallel to the ground prior to settling. Most common in open, stony, broad-leaved woodland, but locally also in hilly grassland, grassland fringing woodland and bushveld with grassy areas.

Quick Facts

Bird Family

Small, sombrely coloured terrestrial birds with confusingly similar, nondescript plumage patterns consisting of greyish speckled upperparts and pale underparts, usually with some streaking or spotting on the breast. Many species show regional plumage variations, palest or greyest in the north or west. Immature birds resemble adults but are generally more speckled. They are best identified by the male's call as well as behaviour and habitat. Most species tend to run rather than fly away when approached; males of many species have prolonged aerial display flights.