Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
Eremopterix leucotis
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix leucotis) — 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 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix leucotis) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 16.4 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 Eremopterix
- Species leucotis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chestnut-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 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix leucotis) belongs to the Alaudidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.4 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 4.8 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 7.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark?
The Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark is a small bird that weighs around 16.4 g.
Where does the Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark live?
The Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark belong to?
The Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix leucotis) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark eat?
The Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark migrate?
The Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Chestnut-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 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut-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 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark's range?
The Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark has a mapped global range of about 7.6 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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