The Western and Northern Cape suite of Long-billed Larks: telling them apart
Three species of the long-billed lark complex occur within the winter rainfall area and the arid north west of the country, with only the Eastern Long-billed Lark resident in the east in the summer rainfall area, and the Benguella Long-billed Lark to the north of the Brandberg Mountains of Namibia.
All exhibit similar vocal and display characteristics during the breeding season but differ subtly in plumage variation and bill length with the Cape Long-billed Lark of the coastal dune system having the longest. The Agulhas Long-billed Lark is more or less confined to the open wheat lands of the Agulhas Plain while the Karoo Long-billed Lark is wide spread throughout the Great Karoo.
Fence posts and any prominent perch is favoured as a call site in the breeding season making for great photographic opportunities as the birds are normally quite accommodating allowing for a close approach.
For more info on our birding tours as quests for specific birds or general birding tours out of Cape Town and the rest of South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, contact Patrick or Marie-Louise on info@avianleisure.com or browse our website www.avianleisure.com
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