The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa
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
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 282The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 191
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 276
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 430
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 332
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 437
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 278
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 276
LBJs - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 90
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 138
Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 200
Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 64
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 51
Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 165
Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 148
Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 181
A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 196
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 75
A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 75