Photo: Maans Booysen, Birding Weto / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rudd’s Lark
Heteromirafra ruddi
Rudd's Lark (Heteromirafra ruddi) — 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 Rudd’s Lark (Heteromirafra ruddi) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 26.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Alaudidae Larks
- Genus Heteromirafra
- Species ruddi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 26.6 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rudd’s Lark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rudd’s Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rudd’s Lark (Heteromirafra ruddi) is a member of the Alaudidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 26.6 g, with a wing length of about 7.4 cm and a tail of around 4.5 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 22,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rudd’s Lark?
The Rudd’s Lark is a small bird that weighs around 26.6 g.
Where does the Rudd’s Lark live?
The Rudd’s Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF e South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Rudd’s Lark belong to?
The Rudd’s Lark (Heteromirafra ruddi) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rudd’s Lark eat?
The Rudd’s Lark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Rudd’s Lark migrate?
The Rudd’s Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rudd’s Lark endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Rudd’s Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Rudd’s 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 Rudd’s Lark's range?
The Rudd’s Lark has a mapped global range of about 22,000 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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