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Rufous SonglarkAlternative names: "Rufous-rumped Singing-lark", "Singing Lark*", "Skylark*" Size: 19 cm (male), 16 cm (female) [averages] Weight: 29 g (average) |
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Similar species |
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SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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Taxonomy, classification |
See Rufous Songlark
at Wikipedia 
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Click here to display information on habitat,
range and finding this species
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Sightings |
Rufous Songlarks were first spotted by us when a couple stayed at our place, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, during the summer of 2004.
Click here to display more sighting
information
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Photos |
Frontal view of a male Rufous Songlark in a treetop
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]
The same male Rufous Songlark starting its song
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]
Here the female Rufous Songlark he is trying to lure; she is sitting
lower in the same tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2007]
Frontal view of a Rufous Songlark on our lawn
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, December 2005]
Here a curious Rufous Songlark inspecting the photographer
who had stopped his car on a dirt road
[October 2008]
Near-lateral view of a Rufous Songlark sheltering in a
Wilga tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]
Lateral view of a Rufous Songlark
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2008]
Dorsal view of a Rufous Songlark hiding in the underbrush of open
woodland
[Near Barraba, NSW, October 2012]
Near-frontal view of an immature Rufous Songlark
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2013]
Close-up frontal view of the underside of an immature Rufous Songlark
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2013]
Lateral view of an immature Rufous Songlark
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, December 2005]
Lateral view of an immature Rufous Songlark
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2007]
Immature Rufous Songlark, now seen at a different angle
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2007]
Fledgling Rufous Songlark calling to be fed
[Maules Creek, NSW, December 2011]
Its sibling had the same idea
[Maules Creek, NSW, December 2011]
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Migratory | Elementary unit: Pair |
The males are prolific singers, either while perched as shown in a photo below or in flight. The display flight is slow, while chirping with curved back. They move around various conspicuous places to mark the boundaries of their territory.
Rufous Songlarks are ground-nesting birds. As such they need tall grass for nesting. Since 2009 we have our paddock slashed in winter. Since then we have not seen Rufous Songlarks on our property (although we do leave tall grass standing on a part of the property at a distance of 200 m from the house). This may relate to the fact that we regularly observe feral cats in the area.
Rufous Songlark cocking its tail, in a way very similar to
Rufous Bush Robins
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]
