Alondra oriental

1. Bird Name: Oriental Skylark
Scientific Name: Alauda gulgula

2. Apariencia:
The Oriental Skylark is a rather small and brown bird. They are heavily streaked in brownish-grey plumage with small, blackish spots scattered across their underparts. They have a small crest, a yellowish-brown beak, and brown eyes. Oriental Skylarks have a short neck, and a rounded head, often held high. Their wings are long and pointed. Their wing feathers are dark brown with narrow, buff-white edges. While both males and females share very similar physical traits and coloration, males are typically slightly more robust.

3. Tamaño:
Oriental Skylarks average in length between 16-18 cm (around 6.5-7 inches) and have a wingspan of about 30-35 cm (roughly 12-14 inches). These birds weigh around 30-45 grams.

4. Hábitat y distribución:
The Oriental Skylark is commonly found in Asia, specifically in parts of India, China, Mongolia, and Southeast Asia. They have extended their range to other parts like Africa and Australia. This species thrives in open habitats such as cultivated land, grasslands, and arid desert regions.

5. Datos de interés:
Despite their small size, Oriental Skylarks are known for their enigmatic courtship flight, where the males ascend vertically singing an enchanting song, before parachuting back down to earth. In contrast to many of their fellow songbird counterparts, Oriental Skylarks often use repetitive syllables in their melodious songs. They’ve also been symbolized in Asian poetry and folklore as harbingers of dawn due to their early morning singing.

6. Dieta:
The Oriental Skylark primarily feeds on seeds and insects. During the breeding season, they lean more towards an insectivorous diet, providing the high protein necessary for their young.

7. Comportamiento y sonidos:
The Oriental Skylark is an energetic early morning singer, often singing at high altitude during their characteristic flight displays. These courtship flights consist of a steep climb, hovering, extensive singing, and then a slow temporary descent. Their song is a complex, continuous melody, full of trills and twitters often described as high-pitched and jingling.

8. Estado de conservación:
According to the IUCN Red List, the Oriental skylark has been listed as a species of “Least Concern” as their population appears to be stable, and they have a large, widespread range.

9. Vida útil:
Oriental Skylarks typically live around 5 to 7 years in the wild. Their lifespan in captivity is not well documented.

10. Notas adicionales:

The Oriental Skylark is also known as the Small Skylark, and in Mandarin, it’s referred to as “hóng-liǔ fēng-liǔ”. Although they are not highly interactive with humans, they play a significant role in ecosystems by controlling the populations of the insects they feed upon.The Oriental Skylark also contributes to seed dispersal through their feeding behavior.

It’s worth noting that, despite its ‘Least Concern’ status, this bird’s habitat faces threats from urbanization and changes in agricultural practices in certain parts of its range. Therefore, sustainable conservation practices are crucial for its ongoing survival.