Karoo long-billed lark
Species of bird
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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| 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 | |
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See text | |
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| Range (only up to central Namibia) | |
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
Nominate subspecies illustrated by Andrew Smith, 1838. Note the greyish collar, a field mark of the species.
Immature subspecies C. s. bradshawi at Augrabies Falls
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