The Williams's Lark is a species of lark

Lark

Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. All species occur in the Old World, and in northern and eastern Australia; only one, the Shore Lark, has spread to North America, where it is called the Horned Lark...

 in the Alaudidae family. Discovered in 1955, much of its life and ecology is still a mystery to ornithology

Ornithology

Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...

.

Range and habitats

In general, the natural habitat

Habitat

* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...

 of M. williamsi is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland

Shrubland

Shrubland, scrubland, scrub or brush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity...

. Its range

Range (biology)

In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.The term is often qualified:...

 is restricted to northern Kenya where it is found in two disjunct population

Population

A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...

s:

One is north of Marsabit

Marsabit

Marsabit is a town in northern Kenya, located 170 km east of the center of the East African Rift at 37°58' E, 2°19' N . It is located in the Eastern Province and is almost surrounded by the Marsabit National Park and Reserve...

, in the Didi Galgalla desert, a region marked by plains of rocky, red lava soil

Andisols

In USDA soil taxonomy, Andisols are soils formed in volcanic ash and defined as soils containing high proportions of glass and amorphous colloidal materials, including allophane, imogolite and ferrihydrite...

s and patches of short-grass

Poaceae

The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...

 and bushes

Shrub

A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...

.

The other inhabits a particular area (elevated between 600m and 1,350m) lying between Isiolo

Isiolo

Isiolo is a town in the Eastern Province, Kenya. It is situated in the Upper Eastern sub-region, and lies 285 kilometres north of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. The town grew around the local military camps, much of the population being descended from former Somali soldiers who had fought in...

 and Garba Tula

Garba Tula

Garba Tula Garba Tula is a town in Northern Kenya. The town has an urban population of about 5,500 .In 2007 it was up-graded to a District status. Mr. Joseph Onyango became the first District Commissioner on 17th November, 2007. The district is already a fully fledged one.The town has been known...

. It has even, unbroken communities of Barleria

Barleria

Barleria is a genus of plants in the family Acanthaceae.Some species include:* Barleria cristata, the Crested Philippine violet* B. obtusa, the Bush violet* B. prionitis, Linn., the porcupine flower, a plant from India- External links :...

shrubs.

Habits

The males of the species perform long, drawn-out, conspicuous song-flights above their territories after the rains at dawn, making them easy to find at this time.

External links

Database entry includes justification for why this species is assessed as Data Deficient.