Photo: William Nortje / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-capped Lark
Calandrella cinerea
Red-capped Lark (Calandrella cinerea) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-capped Lark (Calandrella cinerea) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 23.7 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 Calandrella
- Species cinerea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23.7 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 Red-capped 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 Red-capped Lark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Red-capped Lark (Calandrella cinerea) belongs to the Alaudidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, e, s.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23.7 g, with a wing length of about 9.1 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 5.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-capped Lark?
The Red-capped Lark is a small bird that weighs around 23.7 g.
Where does the Red-capped Lark live?
The Red-capped Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, e, s, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Red-capped Lark belong to?
The Red-capped Lark (Calandrella cinerea) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-capped Lark eat?
The Red-capped Lark is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Red-capped Lark migrate?
The Red-capped Lark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Red-capped 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 Red-capped Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Red-capped 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 Red-capped Lark's range?
The Red-capped Lark has a mapped global range of about 5.7 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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