Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark

The black-crowned sparrow-lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found across northern Africa from Mauritania through the Middle East to north-western India. Its natural habitat is dry savanna. == Taxonomy and systematics == The black-crowned sparrow-lark is also known as the black-crowned finch lark, white-crested finch-lark, white-crested sparrow-lark, white-fronted finch-lark and white-fronted sparrow-lark. === Subspecies === Three subspecies are recognized: E. n. nigriceps – (Gould, 1839): Found on Cape Verde Islands Saharan black-crowned sparrow-lark (E. n. albifrons) – (Sundevall, 1850): Found from Mauritania and Senegal to Sudan Eastern black-crowned sparrow-lark (E. n. melanauchen) – (Cabanis, 1851): Found from eastern Sudan to Somalia, Arabia, Socotra Island, southern Iraq, Iran and Pakistan == Description == The adult males has a bold pied head pattern with a mainly blackhead with contrasting white forehead and white cheek patches. The upperparts are pale greyish brown with black underparts and underwings which contrast with a white patch at the sides of the breast. The tail is blackish with buff edges and grey central feathers, The bill is horn coloured. The females are very different being pale sandy brown on the upperparts with faint streaking on the crown and whitish…