Eastern Clapper Lark

The eastern clapper lark (Corypha fasciolata) is a small passerine bird which breeds in southern Africa. It derives its name from the wing clapping which forms part of its display flight. == Taxonomy and systematics == The eastern clapper lark was formerly placed in the genus Mirafra. It is one of several species that were moved to the resurrected genus Corypha based on the results of a large molecular genetic study by the Swedish ornithologist Per Alström and collaborators that was published in 2023. This species and the Cape clapper lark were formerly considered conspecific as the "clapper lark" (M. apiata) until split based on genetic analysis. The eastern clapper lark and the Cape clapper lark are regarded as forming a superspecies with the flappet lark (Amirafra rufocinnamomea), which is found further to the north. === Subspecies === Five subspecies are recognised: C. f. reynoldsi (Benson & Irwin, 1965) – north Namibia, north Botswana and southwest Zambia C. f. jappi (Traylor, 1962) – west Zambia C. f. nata (Smithers, 1955) – northeast Botswana C. f. damarensis (Sharpe, 1875) – north, central Namibia and west, central Botswana C. f. fasciolata (Sundevall, 1850) – central south Botswana and north, central South Africa…