Karoo long-billed lark
| Karoo long-billed lark | |
|---|---|
| C. s. gilli in Mountain Zebra N. P. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Alaudidae |
| Genus: | Certhilauda |
| Species: | C. subcoronata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Certhilauda subcoronata Smith, 1843
| |
| Subspecies | |
|
See text | |
| Range (only up to central Namibia) | |
The Karoo long-billed lark (Certhilauda subcoronata) 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.
Taxonomy and systematics
Previously, the Karoo long-billed lark was considered by some authorities to comprise several subspecies of the Cape long-billed lark.[2][3][4][5]
Subspecies
Six subspecies are recognised:[6]
- C. s. damarensis (Sharpe, RB, 1904) – west-central Namibia
- C. s. bradshawi (Sharpe, RB, 1904) – southern Namibia and northwestern South Africa (western Northern Cape)
- C. s. subcoronata Smith, A, 1843 – west-central South Africa, southward to central Karoo
- C. s. gilli Roberts, A, 1936 – south-central South Africa (southern Karoo)
- C. s. benguelensis (Sharpe, RB, 1904) – far coastal southwestern Angola and northern Namibia
- C. s. kaokoensis Bradfield, RD, 1944 – Brandberg Mountains (southern Angola and northern Namibia)
Subspecies C. s. benguelensis together with C. s. kaokoensis, have sometimes been treated as a separate species, the Benguela long-billed lark.[7][8] The two taxa are considered to be subspecies of the Karoo long-billed lark based on the similar vocalization and the uncertain affinities of the intermediate taxon damarensis.[6]
Gallery
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Nominate subspecies illustrated by Andrew Smith, 1838. Note the greyish collar, a field mark of the species.
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Immature subspecies C. s. bradshawi at Augrabies Falls
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Certhilauda subcoronata.
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Certhilauda subcoronata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T22735884A95120054. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22735884A95120054.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "Certhilauda damarensis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
- ^ "Certhilauda subcoronata bradshawi - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
- ^ "Certhilauda subcoronata subcoronata - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
- ^ "Certhilauda subcoronata gilli - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
- ^ a b AviList Core Team (2025). "AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025". doi:10.2173/avilist.v2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ Dickinson, E.C.; Christidis, L., eds. (2014). The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2: Passerines (4th ed.). Eastbourne, UK: Aves Press. pp. 435–436. ISBN 978-0-9568611-2-2.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (February 2025). "Nicators, Bearded Reedling, larks". IOC World Bird List Version 15.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 26 November 2025.