Corypha africana
The Rufous-naped Lark (Corypha africana) is a distinctive and widely recognized medium-sized lark of sub-Saharan Africa, typically measuring 18-20 cm in length and weighing between 40-50 grams. Its defining field mark is a prominent rufous (reddish-brown) patch on the nape, contrasting with its heavily streaked brown upperparts and pale, streaked breast that fades to a whitish belly. A noticeable pale supercilium and dark malar stripe further aid in identification, while its bill is relativel...
Found in open grasslands, savannas, lightly wooded scrub, and occasionally cultivated lands, from sea level up to elevations exceeding 2,000 meters.
Its diet primarily consists of various insects, such as grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and termites, supplemented with a significant proportion of seeds and some green plant matter, all gathered from the ground.
Diurnal and primarily ground-dwelling, the Rufous-naped Lark roosts discreetly on the ground or within dense, low vegetation. It forages by walking and running across open ground, gleaning insects and seeds from the surface or probing shallowly into the soil. During the breeding season, males are...
The Rufous-naped Lark is a widespread and common resident across a vast expanse of sub-Saharan Africa. Its year-round range extends from Senegal and Gambia in the west, eastward through the Sahel region, central Africa, and the Horn of Africa, reaching as far south as Angola, Botswana, South Afri...
Least Concern
- The Rufous-naped Lark is renowned for its spectacular "sky-larking" display flight, where the male soars high, sings intensely, and then descends in a captivating parachute-like glide. - Its scientific genus name, *Corypha*, comes from the Greek for 'peak' or 'summit', likely referring to its h...