The desert lark, a hardy and tenacious species of bird that roams the barren landscapes of arid regions, is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of life in even the harshest of environments.
| Serial Number | Characteristics | Description |
| 1 | Common Name | Desert lark |
| 2 | Scientific Name | Ammomanes deserti |
| 3 | Colour | Sandy brown with streaked plumage |
| 4 | Average length in cms | 16-17 cm |
| 5 | Average Height in cms | 9-10 cm |
| 6 | Type of bird | Grassland bird |
| 7 | Found in India in states | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana |
| 8 | Habitat | Dry, open grasslands and deserts |
| 9 | Status | Least Concern |
Features
The physical features of the Desert lark are perfectly adapted for life in arid regions. They have a streamlined body, powerful legs, and nimble feet that allow them to navigate the rugged terrain of the desert with ease. Their length ranges from 15 to 18 cm, and their wingspan is about 30 to 34 cm.
The colour of their plumage is a blend of sandy browns and dusty grays, which provides excellent camouflage against the desert’s sun-baked earth. They have a dark brownish-grey crown, and their backs are pale grey-brown with dark streaks. Their bellies are pale and unmarked, and their wings are pale brown with darker tips.
The Desert lark’s beak is straight and pointed, which helps them to extract seeds and insects from the sand. Their eyes are large and dark, providing excellent vision for detecting prey and predators.
In terms of size, the Desert lark is a small bird, with an average height of 14-16 cm and a weight of around 35-50 grams. Despite their small size, they are remarkably resilient and can survive in some of the harshest environments on earth, from the deserts of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula
Habitat and Food
The Desert lark is primarily found in arid and semi-arid regions, such as deserts, steppes, and rocky plains. They are well-adapted to these harsh environments, and can be found in areas with sparse vegetation, sandy or rocky terrain, and limited sources of water.
Their diet consists of insects, seeds, and other small invertebrates that are found in their desert habitat. They have a keen sense of hearing and vision, which allows them to detect prey from a distance. When hunting for food, they use their pointed beak to probe into the sand and soil to extract seeds and insects.
One of the Desert lark’s most impressive adaptations is their ability to survive without water for extended periods of time. They are able to extract moisture from their food, and can also regulate their body temperature to conserve water. They are known to drink water whenever it is available, but can survive for long periods without it.
Nesting and Nurturing
The Desert lark is a ground-nesting bird, meaning that it builds its nest on the ground rather than in trees or other elevated locations. The nest is typically a shallow depression in the sand or soil, lined with grasses, twigs, and feathers. They may also build their nests near rocks or other natural features that provide some shelter from the sun and wind.
The Desert lark lays an average of 2-4 eggs in a clutch, with a pale blue coloration and brown speckles. The eggs are small, measuring around 20 mm in length and weighing approximately 4 grams each. The female Desert lark incubates the eggs for around 13-14 days, with both parents sharing the responsibility of incubation and guarding the nest.
Once the eggs hatch, the chicks are born with a covering of down feathers, and are completely dependent on their parents for food and protection. The parents feed the chicks a diet of insects and other small invertebrates, which they gather from the surrounding desert environment. The chicks grow rapidly, and are able to leave the nest within 9-12 days of hatching.
After leaving the nest, the young Desert larks continue to be cared for by their parents for several weeks, as they learn to fly and develop the skills they will need to survive on their own. During this time, the parents continue to provide food and protection, and may even teach the chicks how to find water and other resources in the harsh desert environment.
IUCN Status
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species currently lists the Desert lark (Ammomanes deserti) as a species of “Least Concern”. This means that the species is not considered to be at significant risk of extinction at the present time.
The Desert lark has a relatively wide distribution, and is found in a variety of arid and semi-arid habitats across North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. While they may face some threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as disturbances from human activities such as off-road vehicle use, these are not believed to be significant enough to pose a major threat to the overall survival of the species.
