Skip to main content

Photo: Brian du Preez / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Dune Lark

Calendulauda erythrochlamys

Dune Lark (Calendulauda erythrochlamys) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists
See what's near you right now

The Dune Lark (Calendulauda erythrochlamys) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 28.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Alaudidae Larks
  4. Genus Calendulauda
  5. Species erythrochlamys

Where it lives

West-central, southwestern Namibia and northwestern South Africa

Quick facts

Weight
28.1 g
Diet
Omnivores
Family
Alaudidae

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Dune Lark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Dune Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Dune Lark (Calendulauda erythrochlamys) is a member of the Alaudidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF wc, sw Namibia and nw South Africa.

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 28.1 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 6.8 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 71,000 km².

Songs & calls

Dune Lark — Song

Recorded by Peter Boesman Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Dune Lark?

The Dune Lark is a small bird that weighs around 28.1 g.

Where does the Dune Lark live?

The Dune Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF wc, sw Namibia and nw South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Dune Lark belong to?

The Dune Lark (Calendulauda erythrochlamys) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Dune Lark eat?

The Dune Lark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Dune Lark migrate?

The Dune Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Dune 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 Dune Lark make?

1 real field recording of the Dune Lark — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Dune Lark's range?

The Dune Lark has a mapped global range of about 71,000 km².

Conservation

Least Concern

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

Explore more birds

More in Alaudidae

More in Songbirds

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.

4 min read

Back to top