astrildlerke Spizocorys fringillaris

A small, compact lark with a boldly marked face and a small, orange-pink conical bill. Upperparts are gray-brown and underparts pale, with a streaky chest washed yellowish-buff and some diffuse flank streaks. Pairs and small groups are rare localized residents in short upland grassland on clay soils. The species prefers heavily grazed or bare trampled areas, avoiding taller grass and rocky areas. The distinctive simple “chir-ree” call, given on the ground and in flight, is often the best way to locate it. The Botha’s Lark has diffuse streaking on the flanks, while the very similar Pink-billed Lark has plain unstreaked flanks.