Red-winged Lark

Mirafra hypermetra

Other Names

  Red-winged Bush Lark   Alouette polyglotte, Alouette à ailes rouges   Riesenlerche     Röd savannlärka     Allodola alirosse

World: Found in NE Africa from S Sudan, Ethiopia and S Somalia down through NE Uganda, Kenya and NE Tanzania.

Kenya: Found mainly in the plateaux to the NE and SE of the Central Highlands.

This species looks very similar to the Rufous-naped Lark but it is larger and longer-tailed. The red wings are most conspicuous in flight. It perches in shrubs and low trees from which it sings, it also makes typical lark vertical song-flights. Its song is quite complex and includes imitations of other species particularly the Singing Bush Lark and Pink-breasted Lark. The bird pictured above was photographed in Tsavo West National Park in January 2001.