MELODIOUS LARK
Mirafra cheniana
A: Spotlewerik
One of the many endemic Larks of southern Africa. These guys can be quite tough, but are locally prolific at some sites. Their call includes a very elaborate mimicry cycle in which they divulge all the various bird within the immediate area. I thoroughly enjoy these larks, and often put forward a little ID challenge to ID all of the species they mimic. I have sat listening to go from Ant-eating Chat, to SA Cliff-Swallow, to African Quailfinch and ending up at Pied Starling – only to go through another cycle! Good areas for them include Vlaklaagte in Gauteng, and the grasslands near Verena, Mpumalanga.