Photo: Andrew Smith / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Melodious Lark
Mirafra cheniana
Melodious Lark (Mirafra cheniana) — 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 Melodious Lark (Mirafra cheniana) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 29.1 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 Mirafra
- Species cheniana
Where it lives
Central Zimbabwe and central, eastern South Africa, disjunctly in southwestern Kenya and northern Tanzania (Mara, Serengeti)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 29.1 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Melodious 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 Melodious Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Melodious Lark (Mirafra cheniana) belongs to the Alaudidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF c Zimbabwe and c, e South Africa, disjunctly in sw Kenya and n Tanzania (Mara, Serengeti).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 29.1 g, with a wing length of about 7.4 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 258,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Melodious Lark?
The Melodious Lark is a small bird that weighs around 29.1 g.
Where does the Melodious Lark live?
The Melodious Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF c Zimbabwe and c, e South Africa, disjunctly in sw Kenya and n Tanzania (Mara, Serengeti), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Melodious Lark belong to?
The Melodious Lark (Mirafra cheniana) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Melodious Lark eat?
The Melodious Lark is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Melodious Lark migrate?
The Melodious Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Melodious 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 Melodious Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Melodious 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 Melodious Lark's range?
The Melodious Lark has a mapped global range of about 258,000 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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