Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Spike-heeled Lark
Chersomanes albofasciata
Spike-heeled Lark (Chersomanes albofasciata) — 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 Spike-heeled Lark (Chersomanes albofasciata) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 24.6 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 Chersomanes
- Species albofasciata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 24.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Spike-heeled Lark is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Spike-heeled Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Spike-heeled Lark (Chersomanes albofasciata) is a member of the Alaudidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s, sw.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 24.6 g, with a wing length of about 8.6 cm and a tail of around 5 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 2.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Spike-heeled Lark?
The Spike-heeled Lark is a small bird that weighs around 24.6 g.
Where does the Spike-heeled Lark live?
The Spike-heeled Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, sw, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Spike-heeled Lark belong to?
The Spike-heeled Lark (Chersomanes albofasciata) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Spike-heeled Lark eat?
The Spike-heeled Lark is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Spike-heeled Lark migrate?
The Spike-heeled Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Spike-heeled 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 Spike-heeled Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Spike-heeled 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 Spike-heeled Lark's range?
The Spike-heeled Lark has a mapped global range of about 2.2 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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