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Bengal bush lark
At Joka in Kolkata.
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Alaudidae
Genus:	Plocealauda
Species:	P. assamica
Binomial name
Plocealauda assamica (Horsfield, 1840)

The Bengal bush lark (Plocealauda assamica) or Bengal lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern Asia.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Bengal bush lark was formerly placed in the genus Mirafra. It is one of five species moved to a newly erected genus, Plocealauda, based on evidence from a large molecular genetic study published in 2023. The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.

The Bengal bush lark was earlier classified into several races, the Bengal race assamica and the Madras race affinis. These were subsequently split, on the basis of diagnostic song and display characters, into the Jerdon's bush lark (Mirafra affinis) and assamica in the strict sense. Formerly, both the Burmese bush lark and Jerdon's bush lark were considered subspecies of the Bengal bush lark (as M. a. microptera and M. a. affinis respectively) until split to form a separate species. The alternate name "rufous-winged bush lark" may also be used to describe the red-winged lark. Another alternate name for the Bengal bush lark is the rufous-winged lark.

Description

The Bengal bush lark is short-tailed and has a strong stout bill. It is not as long as the skylark, measuring about 15 centimetres in length. It is dark-streaked grey above, and buff below, with spotting on the breast and behind the eye. The wings are rufous.

The song is a repetition of thin disyllabic notes, delivered in a song-flight.

Distribution and habitat

The Bengal bush lark is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia, and found in the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 square kilometres.

It is a common bird of dry, open, stony country often with sparse shrubs, and cultivated areas.

Behaviour and ecology

It nests on the ground, laying three or four speckled eggs. This lark feeds primarily on seeds and insects, especially the latter during the breeding season.

Gallery

• In Kolkata
• Showing wing colour while preening in Kolkata
• In Kolkata, West Bengal, India
• With paddyfield pipit (Anthus rufulus) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India
• In Kolkata, West Bengal, India
• In Kolkata, West Bengal, India
• Preening in Kolkata, West Bengal, India
• In Kolkata, West Bengal, India
• At Hetauda, Nepal
• Bengal bush lark in Boshipota, West Bengal, India
• In Gazipur, Bangladesh

References

1. ^ BirdLife International (2017) . "Mirafra assamica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22734352A118710813. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22734352A118710813.en. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
2. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Nicators, Bearded Reedling, larks". IOC World Bird List Version 14.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
3. Alström, P.; Mohammadi, Z.; Enbody, E.D.; Irestedt, M.; Engelbrecht, D.; Crochet, P.-A.; Guillaumet, A.; Rancilhac, L.; Tieleman, B.I.; Olsson, U.; Donald, P.F.; Stervander, M. (2023). "Systematics of the avian family Alaudidae using multilocus and genomic data". Avian Research. 14: 100095. doi:10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100095.
4. "Mirafra hypermetra - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
5. "Mirafra assamica - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
6. Alström, Per (1998). "Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex" (PDF). Forktail. 13: 97–107. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 7, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2009.

External links

• Species factsheet - BirdLife International

• IUCN Red List least concern species
• Plocealauda
• Birds of Bhutan
• Birds of India
• Birds of Nepal
• Birds of Bangladesh
• Birds described in 1840