Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana)
it is fairly common to common in a wide variety of open habitats with grass, such as savannah, open woodland grassy fynbos, fallow fields and open ground near cultivated land. It dislikes dense grassland, as it prefers having bare patches of soil for foraging and scattered bush and fence poles to use for singing.
It mainly eats arthropods supplemented with seeds, doing most of its foraging on the ground, gleaning food from the bases of plants and taking termites as they emerge from their mound.
This little fellow was so vocal… I heard him long before I saw him… and even then he continued to perform, before flying off….
excellent pic, snapped at the perfect moment…love how his voice is heard!!!
Thanks Roxie… nearly missed him completely… just heard the noisy call and crept up on him…
Rufus is adorable!
He is isn’t he..? thanks…
Love the second image especially 🙂 I think he enjoys his ability to be noisy 🙂 🙂
I believe they spring up and down on anthills calling for their partners… this one must have been getting desperate and used a tree… or his mommy forgot to tell him about the humans and the bees…
LOL! Poor thing…
Graceful and fascinating creatures!
Noisy as well…
Aaaw…….. what a cute little fellow. 🙂 He really looks as though he’s singing his heart out. 🙂
And that he is doing very noisily… jumping about looking for a mate…
I like the bird-shaped toupee on his head!
He is actually quite a active bird… sitting screaming away looking for a mate… he jumps around flapping his wings , I assume to attract a females attention… they must all think he’s very noisy..
Quanto è bello questo uccello e come sempre sono molto belle le tue foto
Ciao, Pat
Thanks Pat… glad you enjoy my photos… it is a beautiful bird… but very noisy this time of the year…
First time I have seen or heard about these birds, great pics.
Thanks they are fairly wide spread the chances are you’ve heard it…noisy…
I have no idea how you get all these great shots… you are truly gifted.
Thank you… many years of experience.. and luck… miss many opportunities though…
I love how you’re able to get such great closeup shots of your birds. Mine don’t sit around long enough for me to photograph them.
I can assure you I miss at least 75 % of all the good shots I could get… most are being lucky and knowing how to creep up on them… quick fingers do help… an awful lot of my photos are taken from hides or out of my car.. where they struggle to see me…
You are amazing again… Seems that he is singing 🙂 So beautiful. Thank you dear Rob, love, nia
Thanks Nia… actually he’s quite noisy…
What an adorable looking bird…
A very noisy one at this time of the year…
We have magpies. When I first moved out west I thought they were pretty but soon found out why so many people can’t stand them. They have an awful sounding noise they make and they are quite aggressive and attack and kill smaller birds quite brutally I might add and they even have the audacity to go after hawks in flight!
interesting info
Glad it taught you something…
Especially love that last shot
Thank you .. a very noisy bird… nearly drove right past him…