Burmese bush lark

The Burmese bush lark (Plocealauda microptera) or Burmese lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in Southeast Asia.

Burmese bush lark
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Alaudidae
Genus:	Plocealauda
Species:	P. microptera
Binomial name
Plocealauda microptera (Hume, 1873)
Synonyms
Mirafra assamica microptera

Taxonomy and systematics

The Burmese bush lark was previous treated as a subspecies of the Bengal bush lark until split following genetic analysis by the Swedish ornithologist Per Alström.^[2] It was formerly included in the genus Mirafra but is one of five species moved to a newly erected genus Plocealauda based on the evidence from a large molecular genetic study published in 2023.^[3][4] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

Although the global population of the Burmese bush lark has not yet been quantified, it is believed to be locally numerous within its sizable range in central Myanmar, where it is endemic, and is estimated to have an extent of occurrence of anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 km².

The Burmese bush lark is a common denizen of a variety of habitats, including grasslands, fallow farm fields, sandy areas, and arable land, especially those with some trees and shrubs.