The singing bush lark was formally described in 1821 by the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield from a specimen collected on the island of Java.

[7] Morphologically, the family Alaudidae constitutes a well-defined group, whose members share unique features of the syrinx and tarsus.

Together with the morphologically and ecologically radically different monotypic genus, Panurus (Panuridae), they form a sister clade to the rest of the Sylvioidea.

[8] The widespread M. cantillans, which ranges from west Africa to India, and the similarly widely distributed M. javanica, from Myanmar to Australia are closely related and their separation is comparatively recent.

Identification of the bush lark is usually obvious from its structure and the rufous wing panels however, this colouring can bleach to a buffish tone.

With jerky wing beats, the head raised slightly, the tail depressed and before landing or dropping into cover, will briefly hover or flutter.

By contrast, the Australian pipit has a more upright stance, a slimmer build and bill and struts purposefully on long legs.

[12] In Australia they inhabit chenopod shrublands, native and exotic grasslands in temperate and tropical areas, coastal heathlands, dunes, mudflats and also modified open habitats such as crop and pastureland.

They are found less commonly on playing fields, golf courses, road verges, salt marshes and other shrublands or heathland and rarely in treed habitats.

[12] They defend territory during the breeding season and both parents incubate and feed the nestlings and fledglings and remove faecal sacs.

Published in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London in 1865 he described nidification of M. j. horsfieldii, "The nests of Mirafra horsfieldi are usually found during the months of November, December, and often as late as January and February.

The situation chosen is a little hollow scraped out by the side of a tuft of grass or straw, or behind a clod of earth; the front edge of the nest alone is smoothed down-the back part being left ragged, and often drawn forward as if to help to conceal the eggs.

"[13] During the breeding period they sing any time of day or night, on the ground and low perches or in song-flights hovering high over territory.