Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark

Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix verticalis

Silhouette: Gossipguy and T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Addo Elephant National Park

In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%

5 Verified sightings at Addo Elephant National Park From 2019 to 2026
947 In all 8 parks
March Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark

The grey-backed sparrow-lark (Eremopterix verticalis) or grey-backed finch-lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern and south-central Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. Sometimes, the name 'grey-backed sparrow-lark' is also used to describe the black-eared sparrow-lark.

Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Grey-backed sparrow-lark Structured guide to the species in southern Africa Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:20

South Africa · 2019

© Frank Lambert · XC515497 · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Flight call0:48

South Africa · 2018

© Lynette Rudman · XC441453 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call0:19

South Africa · 2017

© Peter Boesman · XC392490 · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~30%
2 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
3 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
4 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
5 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
6 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
7 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
8 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark in Addo Elephant National Park?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark sighting in Addo Elephant National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 228th most-seen of the 243 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark in Addo Elephant National Park?

March

In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark in Addo Elephant National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April to February, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Addo Elephant National Park the best place to see a Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark?

6th of 8

Of the 8 parks where we can rate Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark sightings, Addo Elephant National Park ranks 6th at under 5%. The best odds are in Etosha National Park (Namibia, about 30%), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa, about 20%) and Namib-Naukluft National Park (Namibia, about 10%).

Where does the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark is recorded against all the birds logged in Addo Elephant National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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