Adult - Botsalano Nature Reserve. All images copyright Simply Birding.
Juvenile - Botsalano Nature Reserve. All images copyright Simply Birding.
Short-clawed Lark
Certhilauda chuana- Habitat:Dry acacia savanna.
- Diet: A wide variety of insects.
- Status: Locally common breeding resident.
- Calls: A piercing, floating, whistle similar to a human whistle given when perched or in display flight. Also liquid trills similar to that of a rock-thrush. Dual use of the synrinx can be heard when sometimes one note starts before the previous one ends.
- Similar looking: Mainly resembles the Long-billed Larks but habitat and distribution separates. Has some superficial resemblence to pipits but the strongly patterned back separates it.
- Similar sounding: The plain whistle is very simialr to the Long-billed larks but the interspersed liquid trills and dual use of the syrinx is unique.
Fun facts
The ability of Short-clawed Lark to use independent sides of its syrinx to make two separate overlapping independent notes is unique in the region.
ID pitfalls
When seen on a fence post or on the ground, it immediately reminds one of a Pipit but it has a far more strongly patterned back than any pipit of its size. More closely resembles Long-billed Larks but habitat and distribution separates.
Where to find one
There are sites aound Polokwane and Sun City where you can find them but the easiest by far is the boundary fence of Botsalano Nature Reserve and in the reserve itself.