Larks (Alaudidae)
Eastern Long-billed Lark (Certhilauda semitorquata) - HBW 9, p. 565
French: Alouette du Transvaal
German: Transkei-Langschnabellerche
Spanish: Alondra de Transvaal
Taxonomy: Certhilauda semitorquata A. Smith, 1836, Orange River (= Colesberg), Northern Cape, South Africa.
All members of genus with exception of C. chuana formerly treated as a single species, but recent research indicates that they are genetically, morphologically and vocally distinct. Despite plumage differences, present species most closely related to C. curvirostris and C. brevirostris; only distantly related to adjacent C. subcoronata, ranges abutting over broad distance at karoo-grassland interface (roughly along 24º E longitude). Geographical variation rather clinal. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- transvaalensis Roberts, 1936 - E South Africa (N Free State, Gauteng, Mpumulanga and N KwaZulu-Natal).
- semitorquata A. Smith, 1836 - E Karoo grasslands of South Africa (Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal) and Lesotho.
- algida Quickelberge, 1967 - S part of Eastern Cape.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A bird walking on the grass Locality Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa (ssp daviesi)
Helmut Schenkel Brunner 31 December 2001 4 years ago 20 sec 2.8 -
A bird carrying food Locality Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa (ssp daviesi)
Keith Blomerley 2 January 2007 4 years ago 20 sec 2.8
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A bird on the rock.
Locality Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng Province, South Africa (ssp transvaalensis)
Fran Trabalon 16 November 2008 2 years ago 3 -
A bird on rocky grassland.
Locality Verloren Valei Nature Reserve, Dullstroom, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa (ssp transvaalensis)
Luis Mario Arce 9 August 2010 1 year ago 1.9
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Call. 9:57am. Calling from a rocky area in the upper part of the small loop road closest to the Protea Hotel. Locality Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng Province, South Africa
(ssp transvaalensis)
Charles Hesse 20 December 2009 2 years ago 4
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