Raso lark  (Alauda razae)

Description

With a tiny population confined to a single, small island off the west coast of Africa, the diminutive Raso lark is perilously close to extinction. The plumage of this species is a mixture of creamy white, black and brown streaks on the upperparts and breast, becoming uniform creamy white on the underparts (2). The head is crowned with a short, erectile crest, while the bill is thick and robust, and slightly longer in the male (2) (3). Juveniles can be readily distinguished from adults by the reddish-brown plumage tones, especially around the ear-coverts and tail, and by the scaled patterning found on the crown and upper back (3).

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