Singing Bush Lark

Mirafra javanica

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesGrasslandDomed nestSmall · 23 g

What the Singing Bush Lark sounds like

Sonogram of the Singing Bush Lark: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Rob Nicholson · Mosquito Creek Road, Coolmunda, Goondiwindi Regional, Queensland, Australia · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The singing bush lark is a small, thickset bird with a large head, a short, sparrow-like bill and a small crest which is only visible when raised. Its dorsal plumage colour is brown, reddish or sandy with darker central streaks to the feathers. The breast is mottled or streaked and it has a buff eyebrow. The underparts are pale, with a brown tail. The adult upper parts and crown are near black with coarse buff to russet streaking. Juveniles are similar but the crown and upper parts are neatly scaled by narrow white fringes to the feathers. Voice: During the breeding period they sing any time of day or night, on the ground and low perches or in song-flights hovering high over territory. The bush lark can sustain a melodious song which is typically interspersed with skillful mimicry of many other species.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Singing Bush Lark

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Singing Bush Lark

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 20 countries with regular records, and 5 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in Mauritania, Nepal, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Indonesia.

About the Singing Bush Lark

The singing bush lark or Horsfield's bush lark is a species of lark which inhabits grassland throughout most of Australia and much of Southeast Asia. It was described by the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Monotonous Lark vs Singing Bush Lark

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