# Somali lark (Corypha somalica)

> The Somali lark, a bird found only in Somalia: its names, its move to the genus Corypha in 2023, its two subspecies including the former Ash's lark, and its records.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/nature/somali-lark/
Last checked: 2026-11-13
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## In short

The Somali lark (*Corypha somalica*) is a lark, family Alaudidae, endemic to Somalia. Its natural habitat is dry tropical lowland grassland ([IUCN Red List, *Mirafra somalica*, 2016](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717043A94519133.en)). The IUCN estimates the area its range covers at about 270,000 km² (same source).

## Names

The British ornithologist Harry Witherby described it in 1903 as *Certhilauda somalica* ([Witherby, *Certhilauda somalica* n. sp., 1903, Biodiversity Heritage Library](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37116823)). It was later placed in the genus *Mirafra*. A large genetic study of the lark family by Per Alström and colleagues, published in 2023, moved it with several other species to the revived genus *Corypha* ([Alström and others, "Systematics of the avian family Alaudidae", *Avian Research*, 2023](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100095); [IOC World Bird List, larks](https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/larks/)). GBIF still lists it as *Mirafra somalica* ([GBIF](https://www.gbif.org/species/2490598)).

Other names for it include "Somali bushlark" and "Somali long-billed lark". The name "Somali lark" has also been used for Archer's lark and the russet lark ([Avibase](http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=CF0FECC361144AD3); [Wikipedia, Somali lark, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_lark)).

## Two subspecies

The IOC World Bird List recognises two subspecies ([IOC World Bird List, larks](https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/larks/)):

- *C. s. somalica* (Witherby, 1903): northern Somalia.
- *C. s. ashi* (Colston, 1982): central Somalia.

The second was described by Peter Colston in 1982 as a separate species, *Mirafra ashi* or Ash's lark, named for the ornithologist John Ash, who collected the specimen. It is now treated as a subspecies of the Somali lark on genetic and behavioural evidence and because both share the same type locality ([Wikipedia, Somali lark, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_lark)).

## Records in Somali lands

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) holds 22 records of the Somali lark from Somalia, dated from 1903 to 2024 ([GBIF occurrence search, Somalia](https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?country=SO&taxon_key=2490598)). By type: 12 museum specimens, 10 sightings by people.

Records that name a region (2 of 22), by region: [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/) 2 (same source).

The oldest dated record is a museum specimen from 1903, from a place recorded as "Dibbit, about 6%50' N., 47%30' E., [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/).", held by the Natural History Museum, [London](/en/diaspora/london/) ([GBIF record 1291474015](https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1291474015)).

The newest dated record is a sighting by a person from 2024, from a place recorded as "Owdweyne, [Togdheer](/en/regions/togdheer/) : Tuuyo Plains" ([GBIF record 4862940675](https://data.biodiversitydata.nl/xeno-canto/observation/XC899834)).

GBIF only holds what museums, scientists and observers have shared, so the counts show where the animal or plant has been recorded, not its full range.

## Red List status

The IUCN Red List category for the Somali lark is **Least Concern** ([IUCN Red List assessment](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717043A94519133.en); [GBIF species page](https://www.gbif.org/species/2490598)).

## Classification

| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Alaudidae |
| Genus | Mirafra |
| Species | *Mirafra somalica* |

Scientific name with author: *Mirafra somalica* (Witherby, 1903) ([GBIF Backbone Taxonomy](https://www.gbif.org/species/2490598)).

## Related pages

- [Birds of Somalia](/en/nature/birds-of-somalia/)

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List assessment](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717043A94519133.en)
- [GBIF species page](https://www.gbif.org/species/2490598)
- [GBIF occurrence records, Somalia](https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?country=SO&taxon_key=2490598)
- [Alström and others, Avian Research, 2023](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100095)
- [IOC World Bird List, larks](https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/larks/)
- [Wikipedia (backup)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_lark)

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