Least Concern Birds

Rufous-naped Lark

Mirafra africana

Rufous-naped Lark has rufous nape; found in African savannas and farmlands.

Scientific name	Mirafra africana
Swahili name	Kipepeo wa shingo ya rangi ya chungwa
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Alaudidae
Size	Male: approximately 18-20 cm, weight about 30-40 g; female: slightly smaller and lighter

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How to identify

Brown neck with distinct orange-brown markings; overall plumage brown with spots and streaks; crown with fine dark spots; short, conical bill adapted for insect feeding; tail feathers short, slightly fanned in flight

Habitat

Sparse woodland savanna, open grasslands, edges of bushes and farmland

Diet

Omnivorous, mainly insects (such as grasshoppers and beetles), also consumes seeds and small invertebrates

When it is active

Diurnal, most active during early morning and dusk

Where it lives

Widely distributed in eastern and southern Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa; common in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve

How to spot it

Search in open grasslands and bush edges at dawn or dusk, listen for its distinctive call, use binoculars to observe neck color and flight posture

Photography tips

Use soft morning light to capture moments of foraging or singing in the grass, use a telephoto lens to minimize disturbance

Threats

Habitat destruction and overgrazing may affect local populations, but overall threat is low

Similar species

Similar to other species in the genus Mirafra, such as the Cinnamon-breasted Lark (Mirafra rufocinnamomea); distinguished by orange-brown neck markings and different calls

📖 how to spot the rufous naped lark on safari