Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sun Lark
Galerida modesta
Sun Lark (Galerida modesta) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Sun Lark (Galerida modesta) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 20.2 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 Galerida
- Species modesta
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.2 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sun 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 Sun Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sun Lark (Galerida modesta) belongs to the Alaudidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.2 g, with a wing length of about 8.1 cm and a tail of around 4.6 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 3.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sun Lark?
The Sun Lark is a small bird that weighs around 20.2 g.
Where does the Sun Lark live?
The Sun Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Sun Lark belong to?
The Sun Lark (Galerida modesta) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sun Lark eat?
The Sun Lark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Sun Lark migrate?
The Sun Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sun 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 Sun Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Sun 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 Sun Lark's range?
The Sun Lark has a mapped global range of about 3.2 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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