Rusty Lark Photographed for First Time in 94 Years

For the first time since 1931, the Rusty Lark, a small avian species indigenous to Africa's Sahel region, has been photographed. On February 2, researchers Pierre Defos du Rau and Julien Birard from France captured images in Chad's Guéra region. The team, initially focused on Kordofan Sparrows, encountered the unfamiliar rust-hued bird within 50 feet. Subsequent verification by ornithology experts confirmed the species based on the photos and field notes. Measuring five to six inches long, the Rusty Lark features rust-colored upper feathers, a subtly scaly back, and a notably long tail devoid of white edges. Its nesting habits, eggs, and song remain unrecorded. British ornithologist Hubert Lynes first identified the species in 1920, while the last specimens were collected in Niger in 1931. A potential sighting in 2017 was later dismissed, and the bird had been deemed a 'Lost Bird' due to the absence of confirmed sightings for over a decade.