Identification
Raso Larks (Alauda razae) are relatively small in size. The bird can range from sizes between 14-18cm. The adult population is mostly made up of males who are larger then the females. The birds are thick-based. The body has black and brown short streaks and paler around the chest with and an erectile crest. The bill is thick and robust, longer for the males. The Raso Lark is considered an adult when develop a reddish-brown town between the ears and tail, with a pattern on the crown and back. Since the Raso Lark is confined to a small islands-Cape Verde Islands, during times of drought and little rain, they survive by gathering and eating subterranean bulbs of the nutsedges. The females, even though smaller in size still provide by gathering bulbs, while the males stay in the burrows and vigorously watch over, protecting from outside intruders. During times of little food, the females are the ones to die from starvation because they have to find bulbs for the male and incubate the eggs. While in flight they display a short tail with short broad wings. The tail and edge of the wings are white. Raso Lark breeding starts after a rain shower. The male courts the female by signing softly, raising its chest, and hoping up and down while the wings are spread open. Once done mating, both the male and female collect dried grass in order to build a nest. The male defends the nesting site while the female finds a safe location to build a nest. The female can lay up to three eggs per clutch, usually a day apart. During incubation the female sits on the eggs for ten-minute intervals and then goes off to find food. The Cape Verde Giant Gecko eats most chicks and eggs before they are hatched and fledged.
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