The pink-billed lark (Spizocorys conirostris) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern Africa.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is described as having a low breeding success rate.[2]
Taxonomy and systematics
The pink-billed lark was originally classified within the genus Alauda. Some authorities have placed the pink-billed lark in the genus Calandrella.[3]
Damara pink-billed lark (S. c. damarensis) - Roberts, 1922: Alternately named Kenya short-toed lark (a name also used by the Athi short-toed lark). Found in north-western Namibia
S. c. crypta - (Irwin, 1957): Found in north-eastern Botswana
S. c. makawai - (Traylor, 1962): Found in western Zambia
S. c. harti - (Benson, 1964): Found in south-western Zambia
S. c. barlowi - Roberts, 1942: Found in southern Namibia, southern Botswana and north-western South Africa
S. c. conirostris - (Sundevall, 1850): Found in south-eastern Botswana, northern, central and eastern South Africa
Vocalizations
Twelve types of vocalizations have been recorded.[5]
Nestling begging call: nestlings hiss or peep when they see a parent flying toward the nest.
Nestling distress call: nestlings make a harsh pulsed call when in distress
Nestling feeding call: parents make a soft chi-chi-chi sound when feeding nestlings
Threat call: harsh and grating
Appeasement calls: either chattering or metallic, made by parents during incubation
Alarm call: pulsed, with a sharp rise then gradual fall in frequency. Mostly made while in flight.
Attack call: series of tsks, made while chasing other pink-billed larks
Cricket call: soft and rapid, often made while in flight
Foraging calls: soft, with mixed sounds
Flight call: high-pitched, possibly unique to each individual. Usually made while flying in flocks
Flight song: made by males when performing aerial display. Rapid and pulsed.
The bird stays silent while steeply ascending, then begins singing. It then flies irregularly while singing its flight song, which usually lasts less than a minute. It sometimes then descends sharply. [5]
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