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The species complex comprising the rufous-naped lark Corypha africana , Sharpe's lark Corypha sharpii , the red-winged lark Corypha hypermetra , the Somali long-billed lark Corypha somalica and Ash's lark Corypha ashi encompasses 31 recognised taxa across sub-Saharan Africa, many of which are extremely poorly known and some not observed for decades. Only 17 taxa have been studied molecularly and none comprehensively for morphology, vocalisations or other behaviours. Here, we undertake comprehensive integrative taxonomic analyses based on plumage and morphometrics (for 97% of the taxa), mitochondrial and nuclear loci (77%), ≤ 1.3 million genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (68%), song (many described for the first time; 52%) and additional behavioural data (45%). All polytypic species as presently circumscribed are paraphyletic, with eight primary clades separated by ≤ 6.3–6.8 Myr, broadly supported by plumage, morphometrics, song and other behaviours. The most recent divergences concern sympatric taxon pairs usually treated as separate species, whereas the divergence of all clades including C. africana subspecies is as old as sister species pairs in other lark genera. We propose the recognition of nine instead of five species, while C. ashi is synonymised with C. somalica rochei as C. s. ashi. The geographical distributions are incompletely known, and although the nine species are generally para-/allopatric, some might be sympatric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses studies published within the previous issues of the periodical related to mechanisms of substrate color-matching in larks, Alaudidae comprising a family of terrestrial species and their taxonomic implications. Topics include occupation of dark soils by dark larks and red sands by red larks, linking of colour variation in Desert Larks to underlying geology and phenotypic plasticity in adapting the plumage as driving force in the evolution of variation in Galerida larks.

We studied the breeding ecology of the Chestnut-backed SparrowlarkEremopterix leucotisover three years between 2008 and 2010. The breeding season was bimodal with a main peak in laying in autumn (March–April) and another smaller peak in spring (September–October). Nest microhabitat analyses showed they prefer nesting in open areas with lots of bare ground (median 67.5%). Nest entrance directions were biased towards the south (mean vector (µ) = 186.44°). The majority of nests (78.2%) had an apron at the nest entrance. The mean clutch size was 1.88 but there was geographic variation in clutch size between northern and southern races of the species. The mean incubation and nestling periods were 10.33 d (range 10–11 d) and 9.20 d (range 8–10 d), respectively. The results suggest that parental contributions during incubation are almost equal, but females made significantly more food deliveries during the nestling period compared to males. The diet of nestlings comprised mainly of invertebrates (50.2%), seeds (34.4%) and unidentified food items (15.4%). Breeding success was low, averaging 16.1% (range 8.1–20.6%), and the average number of fledged young per pair was 0.36 ± 0.71. Replacement broods were common and we also recorded repeat brooding attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding of the poorly-known eastern population of the Short-clawed Lark (Certhilauda chuana) was observed at 22 nests over a two-year period in the Polokwane Game Reserve, South Africa. This study is the first to report territory size, breeding seasonality, the roles of the different sexes in breeding, courtship and copulation behaviour, the incubation period, description of the morphological and plumage development of nestlings, and breeding success for the species. Nest sites and structure were similar to those of the western population. The mean clutch size of 2.27 eggs for the eastern population was significantly smaller than the mean of 2.75 reported for the western population. There was also seasonal variation in clutch size with three-egg clutches restricted to the peak rainy season when invertebrate prey was most abundant. The 14–16-day incubation period is among the longest known for African larks. In contrast with the single-brooded western population, the eastern population had an extended breeding season, laying up to five clutches and rearing up to three broods (seven nestlings) in one season. The post-nestling dependence period was 6–8 weeks. The results not only shed valuable light on the biology of this poorly-known population and species, but also contributed valuable information to our knowledge of the biology of African Alaudidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannibalism is a rare event in passerines, especially filial cannibalism. Here I report on two instances of filial cannibalism observed in the Chestnut-backed Sparrow-larkEremopterix leucotisin the Limpopo province, South Africa. In both instances it was only the females that engaged in filial cannibalism. It is suggested that a dead nestling is viewed as a waste product that must be moved from the nest as part of nest sanitation, either by carrying it from the nest or by consuming it. These events represent not only the first record of cannibalism in the Alaudidae, but also only the second record of a lark eating another vertebrate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article offers information on the aspects of breeding biology of the Tinkling Cisticola Cisticola rufilatus, which is considered as a shy and elusive specie that is easily neglected unless its distinctive call is being heard. It provides details on the bird's two breeding seasons, with the nest being monitored daily. It relates that the growth rate of the two nestlings were determined through having a logistic equation that solves the matter.

The article relates a study concerning the various aspects of the breeding behaviour of the African Broadbill Smithornis capensis species of South Africa. It was found that majority of African Broadbill nests are frequently suspended above or adjacent to streams, drainage lines or gulleys. The female bird was responsible for incubation, while the male acted as a sentry and usually perch in the vicinity of the nest.

Despite the widespread occurrence of the desert cisticola, Cisticola aridula, little is known about its general biology and, in particular, the nestling period. We studied the nestling period, chick development and rate of prey delivery at a single nest in the Polokwane Nature Reserve, Limpopo Province. A nest with three naked chicks and an egg was discovered on 6 February 2003 and the following day, the fourth egg had also hatched. Data collection commenced on 7 February 2003. The nestlings were weighed, selected biometric measurements were taken and the state of feather development was recorded every second day for the duration of the nestling period. We also determined the rate of prey delivery to nestlings every fourth day. The nestling period in this study (13 days) differed from that reported in the literature (18 days). Nestlings were fed by the female only. The rate of food delivery increased from 50 visits (day 2) to 115 (day 10) for a 12.5-hour observation period. The one-day old chicks' mass ranged from 1.1 g to 1.7 g (average = 1.45 g) and they fledged at an approximate mean mass of 8.8 g (8.4-9.5 g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]