Karoo lark

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Karoo lark
Calendulauda albescens.jpg
C. a. subsp. guttata near Springbok
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Calendulauda
Species:
C. albescens
Binomial name
Calendulauda albescens
(Lafresnaye, 1839)
Subspecies

See text

Calendulauda albescens distribution map.png
Synonyms
  • Alauda albescens
  • Certhilauda albescens
  • Mirafra albescens
  • Mirafra nivosa

The Karoo lark should not be confused with the similarly named Karoo long-billed lark.

Contents

The Karoo lark (Calendulauda albescens) or red-backed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is endemic to South Africa where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Karoo lark was originally classified in the genus Alauda and subsequently Mirafra and Certhilauda , until moved to Calendulauda by the IOC in 2009. [2] Not all authorities have followed this taxonomy change. [3]

Subspecies

C. a. subsp. codea, illustrated by Andrew Smith, 1838 Calendulauda albescens codea 1838, crop.jpg
C. a. subsp. codea, illustrated by Andrew Smith, 1838
C. a. subsp. guttata, illustrated by Andrew Smith, 1838 Calendulauda albescens guttata 1838, crop.jpg
C. a. subsp. guttata, illustrated by Andrew Smith, 1838

Four subspecies are recognized: [4]

Formerly, some authorities considered both the dune lark (as Certhilauda albescens erythrochlamys) and Barlow's lark (as Certhilauda albescens barlowi) to be subspecies of the Karoo lark. [3] [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Alauda</i> Genus of birds

Alauda is a genus of larks found across much of Europe, Asia and in the mountains of north Africa, and one of the species endemic to the islet of Raso in the Cape Verde Islands. Further, at least two additional species are known from the fossil record. The current genus name is from Latin alauda, "lark". Pliny the Elder thought the word was originally of Celtic origin.

Red-capped lark Species of bird

The red-capped lark, Calandrella cinerea, is a small passerine bird. This lark breeds in the highlands of eastern Africa southwards from Ethiopia and Somaliland. In the south, its range stretches across the continent to Angola and south to the Cape in South Africa.

Large-billed lark Species of bird

The large-billed lark or southern thick-billed lark is a small passerine bird found in southern Africa. The name "large-billed lark" may also refer to Bradfield's lark. The name "thick-billed lark" more commonly refers to the species of the same name.

<i>Mirafra</i> Genus of birds

Mirafra is a genus of lark in the family Alaudidae. Some Mirafra species are called "larks", while others are called "bush larks". They are found from Africa through South Asia to Australia.

Sabota lark Species of bird

The sabota lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Africa in its natural habitats of dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

Somali lark Species of bird

The Somali lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae endemic to Somalia.

Rufous-rumped lark Species of bird

The rufous-rumped lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in western and central Africa from Mali, Guinea and Sierra Leone to eastern Sudan, South Sudan and north-western Uganda. Its natural habitat is dry savannah.

Pink-billed lark Species of bird

The pink-billed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

Grays lark Species of bird

Gray's lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa in its natural habitat of hot deserts.

<i>Certhilauda</i> Genus of birds

Certhilauda is a genus of larks in the family Alaudidae living in the southern regions of Africa. The genus was formerly named Heterocorys.

Barlows lark Species of bird

Barlow's lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Namibia and South Africa where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Benguela long-billed lark Species of bird

The Benguela long-billed lark, also known as the Benguela lark or Benguela longbill is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

Red lark Species of bird

The red lark, also known as the ferruginous lark or ferruginous sand-lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in western South Africa and possibly Namibia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Short-clawed lark Species of bird

The short-clawed lark or short-clawed bush-lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Botswana and South Africa. Its natural habitat is dry savannah.

Cape long-billed lark Species of bird

The Cape long-billed lark, also known as the Cape lark, Cape longbill or long-billed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa. Its natural habitats are semi-arid Karoo shrub and subtropical dry shrubland and subtropical or dry lowland and highveld grassland. This lark is also found in croplands, farmlands and coastal fynbos.

Dune lark Species of bird

The dune lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is endemic to Namibia where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

Karoo long-billed lark Species of bird

The Karoo long-billed lark or Karoo longbill is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Africa in its natural habitat of subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

Spike-heeled lark Species of bird

The spike-heeled lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Africa.

Fawn-coloured lark Species of bird

The fawn-coloured lark or fawn-coloured bush-lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-central Africa.

Foxy lark Species of bird

The foxy lark or Abyssinian lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in east-central Africa.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Calendulauda albescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22717176A94523028. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717176A94523028.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. "Taxonomy Version 2 « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  3. 1 2 "Calendulauda albescens - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  4. "IOC World Bird List 6.4". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi: 10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4 .
  5. "Calendulauda barlowi - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-19.