Karoo long-billed lark

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.

Subspecies

Six subspecies are recognised:

• 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. 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.

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References