Bar-tailed Lark
Ammomanes cinctura
The Bar-tailed Lark (Ammomanes cinctura) is a rare lark found in 24 countries, weighing about 18 g. The bar-tailed lark or bar-tailed desert lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae.
About the Bar-tailed Lark
The bar-tailed lark or bar-tailed desert lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Two other species, the rufous-tailed lark and the Cape clapper lark are both also sometimes referred to using the name bar-tailed lark. It is found from Morocco to Pakistan. Its natural habitat is hot deserts. This is in many places a common species, but elsewhere rather less common. It has a very wide distribution and faces no obvious threats, but surveys have shown that it is slowly decreasing in numbers. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The bar-tailed lark is similar to the desert lark in appearance, but at 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in), is slightly smaller, with a smaller, more domed head, a smaller beak, thinner legs and a shorter tail. The upper parts are sandy-buff washed with grey, while the underparts are whitish with little if any streaking, and the breast and flanks washed with buff. The rufous wings have dark trailing edges and the rufous tail has a terminal black band.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Bar-tailed Lark?
- The bar-tailed lark is similar to the desert lark in appearance, but at 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in), is slightly smaller, with a smaller, more domed head, a smaller beak, thinner legs and a shorter tail. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Bar-tailed Lark?
- The Bar-tailed Lark is a small sized bird weighing about 18 g.
- Where can you see a Bar-tailed Lark?
- The Bar-tailed Lark occurs in 24 countries, including Israel, Morocco, Cape Verde, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
- What birds look similar to a Bar-tailed Lark?
- The Bar-tailed Lark is most easily confused with the Desert Lark and the Rufous-tailed Lark.
- Is the Bar-tailed Lark endangered?
- The Bar-tailed Lark is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Bar-tailed Lark for real
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