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Sabota Lark
Afrikaans name: Sabotalewerik
Sabota Lark
Photo © Steven Herbert
Calendulauda sabota
The Sabota Lark is commonly encountered in many of the game reserves of South Africa. In areas of sparse grass or bushveld it can be seen on the road or the roadside verges.
Most often they are seen singly. The identifying features are the white eyebrow and the speckling on the breast and back. Both sexes have the same colouration. They reach a length of 15 cm.
Sabota Larks feed on insects and seeds. The insects eaten include ants, grasshoppers, termites and beetles. Spiders also form part of their diet.
The female lays between 2 and 4 eggs into a nest that is built on the ground next to a tuft of grass. If they cannot find a nesting spot with sufficient shade they build a dome over the nest!
The scientific name used to be Mirafra sabota but it is now Calendulauda sabota.
References and further reading
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 75Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 51
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 138
Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 437
Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 430
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 282