Rufous-naped lark, Mirafra africana, photographed at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa.
Image: Dan Logen, 19 January 2010 [velociraptorize].
Nikon D300, 600 mm lens, 1.4 extender ISO 640, f/6.4, 1/640 sec.
Question: This African mystery bird species is one of several that form a superspecies, can you name this bird and its sister (super)species?
Response: This is a rufous-naped lark, Mirafra africana. This large species forms part of a superspecies with Red-winged Lark, M. hypermetra , which is even larger. Both birds are members of the passerine family, Alaudidae. When flying, both species have conspicuous rufous wing patches, but they are morphologically and vocally distinct form each other. In the future, taxonomic splits are expected for at least some of the 23 subspecies of rufous-naped lark.
You are invited to review all of the daily mystery birds by going to their dedicated graphic index page.
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