Photo: Dominic Sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Short-tailed Lark
Spizocorys fremantlii
Short-tailed Lark (Spizocorys fremantlii) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Short-tailed Lark (Spizocorys fremantlii) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 23.4 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 Spizocorys
- Species fremantlii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Short-tailed 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 Short-tailed Lark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Short-tailed Lark (Spizocorys fremantlii) belongs to the Alaudidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, ne.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23.4 g, with a wing length of about 8.8 cm and a tail of around 4.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 566,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Short-tailed Lark?
The Short-tailed Lark is a small bird that weighs around 23.4 g.
Where does the Short-tailed Lark live?
The Short-tailed Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, ne, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Short-tailed Lark belong to?
The Short-tailed Lark (Spizocorys fremantlii) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Short-tailed Lark eat?
The Short-tailed Lark is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Short-tailed Lark migrate?
The Short-tailed Lark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Short-tailed 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 Short-tailed Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Short-tailed 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 Short-tailed Lark's range?
The Short-tailed Lark has a mapped global range of about 566,000 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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