Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Desert Lark
Ammomanes deserti
Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 23.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Alaudidae Larks
- Genus Ammomanes
- Species deserti
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23.8 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Desert Lark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Desert Lark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti) belongs to the Alaudidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers AF, PAL Morocco to w India.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23.8 g, with a wing length of about 9.6 cm and a tail of around 6.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 11.4 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Desert Lark?
The Desert Lark is a small bird that weighs around 23.8 g.
Where does the Desert Lark live?
The Desert Lark is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering AF, PAL Morocco to w India, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Desert Lark belong to?
The Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Desert Lark eat?
The Desert Lark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Desert Lark migrate?
The Desert Lark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Desert Lark endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Desert Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Desert Lark — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Desert Lark's range?
The Desert Lark has a mapped global range of about 11.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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