The Indochinese bush lark or Indochinese lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southeast Asia.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs widely across Indochina, including lowland Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, with extensions into adjacent Myanmar. It favors open grasslands, dry scrub, fallow fields, and the margins of rice paddies and cultivation. The species adapts well to secondary habitats, roadsides, and village outskirts with scattered shrubs. Nests are placed on the ground in grassy cover, and birds frequently use perches such as posts or small bushes for song and lookout.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The Indochinese bush lark is a small ground-dwelling lark that thrives in open, human-modified landscapes such as fields and scrubby edges. It often sings from fence posts, bushes, or low wires and performs brief fluttering song-flights. Formerly treated within the Bengal Bushlark complex, it is now recognized as a distinct species across Indochina.
Temperament
wary but confiding near open country
Flight Pattern
low, undulating flight with short rapid wingbeats; occasional fluttering song-flights
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs; loose small groups may form in non-breeding periods. A ground nester, it builds a small cup in grass clumps. Breeding is timed to rainy seasons when insect prey is abundant. Males sing persistently from low perches to advertise territories.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A bright, buzzy series of trills and chirps delivered in repeated phrases. Song is given from a low perch or during short, fluttering display flights and carries well over open fields.
Plumage
Heavily streaked brown upperparts with a slightly paler, buffy underbody and fine streaking on the breast. Shows warm rufous wing panels and edges, with a subtle crest that can be raised. Underparts are buff to whitish with diffuse streaks; tail is relatively short with darker centers.
Diet
Takes a mixed diet of small insects (ants, beetles, grasshoppers, termites) and grass seeds. Forages primarily on the ground, picking items from bare patches and between clumps of grass. During termite emergences it feeds opportunistically on alates. Seed intake increases in the dry season when insects are less abundant.
Preferred Environment
Open grasslands, pastures, field margins, tracksides, and lightly scrubby farmland with scattered perches. Frequently feeds along the edges of rice paddies and fallow plots where ground cover is patchy.
