Fun Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark Facts For Kids

Aashita Dhingra
Oct 20, 2022 By Aashita Dhingra
Originally Published on Sep 02, 2021
Edited by Katherine Cook
Ashy-Crowned Sparrow-Lark Fact File

There aer 26 species of sparrows in the world. The crowned sparrow lark (Eremopterix griseus) is endemic to India and Sri Lanka.

The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) can be spotted near hills, scrubs, wastelands, and cultivated land in these regions. Crowned sparrow larks (Eremopterix griseus) can also be addressed by their other common names which are ash-crowned sparrow-lark, black-bellied sparrow lark, and ash crowned finch lark. Crowned sparrow larks (Eremopterix griseus) are known to migrate in flocks, mostly during winter.

The crowned sparrow lark (Eremopterix griseus) is primarily an omnivore and feeds on seeds, plants as well as insects. Crowned sparrow larks (Eremopterix griseus) are small to medium-sized birds of the world with an overall grayish brown plumage.

Male and female birds are slightly different in coloration and pattern.

The crowned sparrow lark (Eremopterix griseus) is classified as a Least Concern species by the IUCN and their distribution and population are wide in the regions they are native to. They belong to the Alaudidae family, genus Eremopterix, and order Passeriformes.

For more relatable content, check out these fact files on the chipping sparrow and fox sparrow.
 

Ashy-Crowned Sparrow-Lark Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an ashy-crowned sparrow-lark?

The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) is a type of bird that belongs to the kingdom Animalia and orders Passeriformes.

What class of animal does an ashy-crowned sparrow-lark belong to?

The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) is a type of bird that belongs to the class Actinopterygii, Alaudidae family, genus Eremopterix.

How many ashy-crowned sparrow-larks are there in the world?

The exact population of ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) is not known. There are a total of 26 sparrow bird species, and five of them are found in India. They are migratory which means their distribution range is varied. They are difficult to view in regions apart from where their population is endemic.

Where does an ashy-crowned sparrow-lark live?

The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark range is in India and Sri Lanka. An ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) avoids regions with heavy rainfalls.

What is an ashy-crowned sparrow-lark's habitat?

The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark habitat range includes hills, scrubs, wastelands, and cultivated land. The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) is a migratory species and usually migrates during winter. This bird likes to avoid regions with extreme rain where disasters like riversides and floods might occur. Aside from migration, they usually within their habitat range.

Who does the ashy-crowned sparrow-lark live with?

The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) lives alone within its range as well as in groups. An ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) travels in flocks when it is migrating from one place to another.

How long does an ashy-crowned sparrow-lark live?

The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) lifespan is not evaluated. An ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) migrates to different parts of the world when there are extreme temperatures.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding season for a crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) occurs from February to September. Males and females reproduce sexually during the breeding season.

An ashy-crowned sparrow-lark's nest is a dense depression located under a grass tuft inside the ground. The tuft has a lining of grass and hair with some pebbles alongside the edge.

Males and females incubate the eggs during the breeding season and the incubation period is from 13-15 days. The juveniles fledge after a few weeks and once they are independent, they leave their nests and become independent birds.

What is their conservation status?

Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark birds are classified as a Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are not endangered. However, they are endemic to India and Sri Lanka and are seen only in those regions.  

Ashy-Crowned Sparrow-Lark Fun Facts

What do ashy-crowned sparrow-larks look like?

An ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) is a small to medium-sized bird with a grayish brown plumage. Males are usually sandy brown with a black colored belly, lower lores, chin, and eye stripe. They are marked with black and white face patterns that look contrasting. They have a chocolate brown on the sides of the face and underparts.

Their tail is dark brown. Females are paler compared to males and more camouflaged than males. The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark wingspan 31.5-35.4 in (80-90 cm).

How cute are they?

The crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) is a cute and adorable bird. An ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) is predominantly seen in India and Sri Lanka and seldom seen in other parts of the world.

How do they communicate?

Ashy-crowned sparrow-larks communicate via calls as well as songs. They have a variety of vocalizations at different pitches, and their loudness depend on the proximity of others of their own kind.

How big is an ashy-crowned sparrow-lark?

Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark birds of the world are 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm) in length. This is two times bigger than the smallest bird in the world, the bee hummingbird which measures 2.2-2.4 in (5.5-6.1 cm).

How fast can an ashy-crowned sparrow-lark fly?

These birds of the world have relatively moderate speeds. This bird species might not be that fast, however,  they are capable of traveling long distances when they migrate.

How much does an ashy-crowned sparrow-lark weigh?

Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark or an ash-crowned finch lark bird's exact weight is not evaluated.  The Harris's sparrow is one of the largest sparrows in the world and weighs 0.05-1.10 lb (26-49g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Male and female birds are not addressed separately. However, they differ in appearance. The male is more brightly colored compared to the female species and is easy to tell apart if observed closely. They also differ in reproductive functions.

What would you call a baby ashy-crowned sparrow-lark?

A baby ashy-crowned sparrow-lark is called a chick, nestling, or a juvenile. The breeding pair care for the juvenile and leave the nest once the chick begins fledging.

What do they eat?

They are primarily omnivores including seeds, plants, grasshoppers, silkworms, and other insects. Juveniles, too, are fed mostly insects. They search for a carnivorous diet during the winter months and search for other foods during other seasons.

Are they dangerous?

No, these birds are not dangerous and can safely be observed from a distance. They are much easier to spot in India or Sri Lanka compared to other regions of the world. Predators include the harpy eagle, coopers hawks, and leopards.

Would they make a good pet?

No, these are innately wild birds. However, they can be attracted to birdwatching sites if they are given appropriate food and shelter.

If you wish to see this species, it's best to search for them in a region they are native to. If you wish to adopt a bird species, you should search for other sociable and accommodative species like parakeets or parrots.

Did you know...

March 20 every year is celebrated as world sparrow day. This day is primarily to raise awareness about preserving their populations which are affected by increasing noise pollution.

Although sparrows are mostly associated with birds that fly, they are capable of swimming to escape predators.

How to tell a male and female ashy-crowned sparrow-lark apart?

It's easy to identify male and female ashy-crowned sparrow-larks since they have different coloration and patterns. Although male and female birds of this species have the same names, they have distinct differences in appearance. Males are usually sandy brown with a black belly, lower lores, chin, and eye stripe.

They are marked with contrasting black and white face patterns. They have are chocolate brown on the sides of the face and underparts. Their tail is colored dark brown.

Females are paler in color compared to males and more camouflaged than males. Differences in male's and female's coloration, size, an pattern are primarily due to sexual dimorphism. If you ever come across them, do search try and spot the difference yourself.

How many eggs do ashy-crowned sparrow-larks lay?

Female ashy-crowned sparrow-larks lay two to three eggs. The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark nest is a compact depression under a tuft of grass in the ground.

The tuft is lined with grass and hair with some pebbles arranged on edge. Males and females incubate the eggs during the breeding season. The juveniles leave their nest once they fledge and become independent birds.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our myna facts and coal tit facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable ashy-crowned sparrow lark coloring pages.

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Written by Aashita Dhingra

Bachelors in Business Administration

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Aashita DhingraBachelors in Business Administration

Based in Lucknow, India, Aashita is a skilled content creator with experience crafting study guides for high school-aged kids. Her education includes a degree in Business Administration from St. Mary's Convent Inter College, which she leverages to bring a unique perspective to her work. Aashita's passion for writing and education is evident in her ability to craft engaging content.

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