Photo: Henrik Grønvold / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark
Eremopterix nigriceps
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) — 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 Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 13.8 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 Eremopterix
- Species nigriceps
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.8 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-crowned 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 Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) belongs to the Alaudidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers AF, PAL Mauritania to nw India.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.8 g, with a wing length of about 7.6 cm and a tail of around 4.5 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 7.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark?
The Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark is a very small bird that weighs around 13.8 g.
Where does the Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark live?
The Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering AF, PAL Mauritania to nw India, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark belong to?
The Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark eat?
The Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark migrate?
The Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-crowned 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 Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark's range?
The Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark has a mapped global range of about 7.8 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.
Explore more birds
More in Alaudidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.