Photo: Derek Keats / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Monotonous Lark
Mirafra passerina
Monotonous Lark (Mirafra passerina) — 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 Monotonous Lark (Mirafra passerina) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 24.7 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 Mirafra
- Species passerina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 24.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Monotonous Lark is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Monotonous Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Monotonous Lark (Mirafra passerina) belongs to the Alaudidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF w Angola to c Zambia and s to n South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 24.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.1 cm and a tail of around 5.7 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 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Monotonous Lark?
The Monotonous Lark is a small bird that weighs around 24.7 g.
Where does the Monotonous Lark live?
The Monotonous Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF w Angola to c Zambia and s to n South Africa, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Monotonous Lark belong to?
The Monotonous Lark (Mirafra passerina) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Monotonous Lark eat?
The Monotonous Lark is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Monotonous Lark migrate?
The Monotonous Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Monotonous 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 Monotonous Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Monotonous 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 Monotonous Lark's range?
The Monotonous Lark has a mapped global range of about 1.9 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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