Corypha (bird)

Corypha is a genus of larks in the family Alaudidae. These species were formerly placed in the genus Mirafra. They are widely distributed in open savannah-type habitats across sub-Saharan Africa.

Corypha
Cape clapper lark (Amirafra apiata marjoriae)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Alaudidae
Genus:	Corypha Gray, GR, 1840
Type species
Alauda apiata Cape clapper lark Vieillot, 1816

Taxonomy

A 2023 molecular phylogenetic study of the lark family Alaudidae by the Swedish ornithologist Per Alström and his collaborators found that the genus Mirafra contained deep internal genetic divergences. They therefore split Mirafra into four genera, each corresponding to a major clade. For one of these clades they resurrected the genus Corypha that had originally been introduced in 1840 by the English zoologist George Gray with Alauda apiata Vieillot, 1816, the Cape clapper lark, as the type species.^[1][2][3] The name Corypha is from Ancient Greek κορυφος/koruphos, an unknown bird mentioned by the Greek author Hesychius of Alexandria that is usually assumed to be a lark.^[4]

A comprehensive integrated study of the genus, published in 2024, combined analyses of the plumage, morphology, vocalization and phylogenetics.^[5] This led to a substantial revision of the specific boundaries and an increase in the number of recognised species.^[2]

The phylogeny shown below is based on the 2024 study by Per Alström and collaborators.^[5]

Corypha	Cape clapper lark (Corypha apiata) Eastern clapper lark (Corypha fasciolata) Highland lark (Corypha kurrae) Plains lark (Corypha kaballi) Plateau lark (Corypha nigrescens) Rufous-naped lark (Corypha africana) Sentinel lark (Corypha athi) Somali lark (Corypha somalica) Red-winged lark (Corypha hypermetra) Kidepo lark (Corypha kidepoensis) Russet lark (Corypha sharpii)

The genus contains 11 species:^[2]

• Cape clapper lark, Corypha apiata
• Eastern clapper lark, Corypha fasciolata (split from C. apiata)
• Kidepo lark, Corypha kidepoensis (split from C. hypermetra)
• Red-winged lark, Corypha hypermetra
• Highland lark, Corypha kurrae (split from C. africana)
• Rufous-naped lark, Corypha africana
• Sentinel lark, Corypha athi (split from C. africana)
• Plains lark, Corypha kabalii (split from C. africana)
• Plateau lark, Corypha nigrescens (split from C. africana)
• Russet lark, Corypha sharpii (split from C. africana)
• Somali lark, Corypha somalica