Photo: Alan Manson / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark
Eremopterix verticalis
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix verticalis) — 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 Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix verticalis) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 17 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 Eremopterix
- Species verticalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix verticalis) belongs to the Alaudidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s, sc.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 4.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark?
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark is a small bird that weighs around 17 g.
Where does the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark live?
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, sc, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark belong to?
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix verticalis) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark eat?
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark migrate?
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Grey-backed Sparrow-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 Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark's range?
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark has a mapped global range of about 3 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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