Mongolian Lark

SCI Name:  Melanocorypha mongolica
Protonym:  Alauda mongolica ReiseVersch.Provin.Russ.Reichs 3 p.697
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Alaudidae / Melanocorypha
Taxonomy Code:  monlar1
Type Locality:  'salt plains between the Onon and Argun rivers'', northern Mongolia.
Author:  Pallas
Publish Year:  1776
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

MELANOCORYPHA
(Alaudidae; Ϯ Black Lark M. yeltoniensis) Gr. μελαγκορυφος melankoruphos  unidentified black-headed bird, mentioned by Aristotle (probably confused by Boie with Gr. κορυδος korudos  crested lark   < κορυς korus, κορυθος koruthos  helmet, or κορυθος koruthos  unidentified crested bird); "Gattung Melanocorypha.¹ ...  Hieher aus Europa:  1. Alauda calandra Lin.    Africa:  2. crassirostris Vaill.  3. deserti Lichst.  4. melanocephala Lichst.  5. saxicoloides — Vaill. Afr. pl. 191.    Asien: 5 [sic]. Alauda tatarica Pall.  7. mongolica Pall.   Man kennt die Lebensweise der hier vereinigten Vögel noch zu wenig, um darüber entscheiden zu dürfen, ob solche mit der Horsfieldschen Alauda javanica, dem Typus der Gattung Mirafra des leßteren vereinigt bleiben können.   ...   ¹ Mελανοκορυφος, Aristot." (Boie 1828); "Melanocorypha Boie, 1828, Isis von Oken, 21, col. 322. Type, by subsequent designation, M. tatarica (L.) Boie, Mus. Carls., fasc. j., pl. 19 — Alauda tatarica Pallas = Alauda yeltoniensis Forster (G. R. Gray, List Gen. Birds, 1840, p. 48)." (Peters 1960, IX, 40).
Var. Melancorypha.
Synon. Calandra, Calandrina, Corydon, Corydus, Londra, Melanocoryphoides, Nigrilauda, Pallasia, Pterocorys, Saxilauda.

melancorypha / melancoryphus
L. melancoryphus  unknown bird, variously identified  < Gr. μελας melas, μελανος melanos  black; κορυφη koruphē  head.

mongola / mongolica / mongolicus / mongolus
Mongolia. Until the early part of the 20^th century Mongolia was considered to include western Manchuria and parts of northern China.