| י 338) צחיחנית מדבר | ||||||||||
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:צחיחנית מדברית , דומה לצחיחנית החרמון אך קטנה ובהירה יותר. צבעה הכללי כצבע החול . הסהרון שעל צווארה צר יותר ואינו מתחבר עם פס העין . בית גידולה משתרע מסהרה דרך חצי האי ערב ועד למדבריות סוריה ועירק . באזורים יבשים דלי צמחיה, מישוריים ופתוחים . בארץ מבקרת ודוגרת קיץ נדירה עד לא שכיחה במדברית הנגב ... אמר ר' אסי שמונה ספיקין, חובא, חוגא ... חולין סב' ע"ב | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
Eremophila bilopha From W Sahara through N Africa to Arabia and Syria, and Iraq deserts. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
13-14 m, 22-28 g, wingspan 25-30 cm. Smeller and shorter-tailed than Horned Lark. Rather small, delicate lark, sharing 'horns' and basic plumage pattern of Horned Lark, but has pale areas of face white, upperparts sandy-pink, and underparts buff-white. Juvenile lacking head pattern and having white-spotted upperparts, markedly dissimilar from adult and more reminiscent of other larks. Habitat. In lower middle latitudes in arid, warm usually level lowlands, bare or sparsely vegetated, extending from Mediterranean to oceanic climate. Occuring on stony plains and deserts, prefers stony plateaux and steppes with solid soil, in sandy areas stays on patches where soil compact, avoiding pure sand. Does not penetrate much into desert, although able to survive on completely bare plains where other birds infrequent. Food and Feeding. Main diet based on seeds and occasional beetles. Breeding. Apr-May in Algeria, Feb-Apr in Morocco, Apr-May in Jordan, Mar in Saudi Arabia. Nest on ground in the open, or in shelter of tussock, shallow depression lined with grass, twigs, and rootlets, with inner lining of soft grass-heads. 2 egges, sub-elliptical, smooth and glossy, virtually indistinguishable Horned Lark. No further information. Movements. Resident, some dispersal occurs. This probably at individual rather than population level in N Africa, but may be a more regular feature in northern Arabia. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. Common in Morocco, Jordan and western deserts in Iraq. Israel. In Israel subspecies Eremophila bilopha. Uncommon local breeding summer visitor and partial resident, in arid desert zone. |
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