A large, dark-faced lark superficially resembling a Groundscraper Thrush, arriving as a migrant from Central Africa in the sub-region as a non-breeding species during the ‘wet’ summer months, with a marked bushveld habitat preference.

Dusky Lark

Usually encountered in in areas of short grassland or on the edges of shrubland and mopane woodland, in small groups exhibiting a distinctive ‘wing flicking’ action while walking about restlessly in search of insects and seeds, often in the company of grazing ungulates.

Occasionally found perching on trees and nowhere common within its known range, with a geographic preference for the far north of the sub-region, with numbers fluctuating unpredictably in response to local conditions and migration patterns.

Dusky Lark

These images were taken in northern Kruger, part of a small flock behaving characteristically – following on behind a herd of elephants while searching for insects and seeds thrown up by the elephants, easily identified by their wing flicking action!

For more information on unusual bird species, contact Patrick Cardwell on info@avianleisure.com