Gray's lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa in its natural habitat of hot deserts.
Region
Southwestern Africa
Typical Environment
Gray's lark inhabits the hyper-arid plains and dune margins of the Namib and adjacent deserts in Namibia, southwest Angola, and the far northwest of South Africa. It favors open, sparsely vegetated gravel flats with scattered shrubs and grass tussocks. It also uses sandy inter-dune corridors and coastal desert plains near fog zones. The species avoids dense vegetation and prefers wide, unobstructed vistas.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Gray's lark is among the palest of the larks, blending perfectly with the Namib’s gravel plains and dunes. It is superbly adapted to heat and aridity, often obtaining much of its moisture from prey. The species usually runs swiftly across open ground, taking short low flights when disturbed. Breeding is closely tied to sporadic desert rains.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
low, bounding flight with short rapid wingbeats; brief display flights
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, sometimes small family groups after breeding. Nests are shallow ground cups placed in slight hollows, often shaded by a stone or small shrub. Pairs are monogamous during the season, and breeding is triggered by rainfall events.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, tinkling series of notes and trills, often delivered from the ground or a low perch. Males may give a short, fluttering display flight with quiet phrases. Calls include thin chips and soft contact notes.
Plumage
Very pale sandy-gray upperparts with minimal streaking, clean whitish underparts, and a plain, smooth texture overall.
Diet
Feeds on small insects and other arthropods such as beetles, ants, and termites, supplemented with grass seeds and other plant material. After rains it takes advantage of short-lived insect swarms. It pecks and gleans from the surface and probes lightly in loose sand. Moisture needs are largely met through prey and early-morning foraging when dew or fog dampens the ground.
Preferred Environment
Open gravel plains, sandy flats, and dune margins with sparse shrubs. It forages in the most barren patches, often along faint vehicle tracks or natural clearings.
