Habitat and Distribution

Generally speaking, the natural habitat of M. cheniana is subtropical or tropical, seasonally wet or flooded, lowland grassland.[2] Within these regions, however, M. cheniana prefers life on the dryer slopes, such as there are, especially in open runs between grassy tussocks. It tends to avoid lower areas where vegetation grows taller and more densely, and precipitation collects, making it moister.


The melodious lark forages on the land, eating mostly grass seeds, supplemented somewhat with insects.


It is probably territorial and monogamous, and lays a clutch of 2-4 eggs.[2] It is generally resident, breeding throughout the months of September through March. The level of breeding activity varies somewhat depending on locality; in South Africa, the most active period is November through January, while in Zimbabwe it is January through March.[2] Otherwise, however, local communities are compelled to abandon one area for another when regular dry-season fires occur, though on any given year this may affect certain colonies while missing others. M. cheniana select different textures of grass or grass parts to build their domed, obliquely-accessed nests. They use the harder, and more fibrous grasses and stalks for an outer thatch, while the finer and softer grasses or grass leaves are used to line the nest's interior