Larks (Alaudidae)
Fawn-coloured Lark (Calendulauda africanoides) - HBW 9, p. 558
French: Alouette fauve
German: Steppenlerche
Spanish: Alondra Leonada
Other common names: Fawn Lark/Bushlark
Taxonomy: Mirafra africanoides A. Smith, 1836, eastern Cape Colony (= Colesberg), Northern Cape, South Africa.
Formerly placed in genus Mirafra, but genetic evidence indicates that it belongs in a distinct clade formed by present genus. Often treated as conspecific with disjunct C. alopex, but differs genetically and in structure (shorter bill). Geographical variation largely clinal, plumage colour generally matching regional soil colour, and streaking reduced in more arid areas; races broadly intergrade, and further study may reveal that several of those currently accepted are unsustainable; other named races include omaruru, gobabisensis and rubidior (from various .. View all taxonomy...
Formerly placed in genus Mirafra, but genetic evidence indicates that it belongs in a distinct clade formed by present genus. Often treated as conspecific with disjunct C. alopex, but differs genetically and in structure (shorter bill). Geographical variation largely clinal, plumage colour generally matching regional soil colour, and streaking reduced in more arid areas; races broadly intergrade, and further study may reveal that several of those currently accepted are unsustainable; other named races include omaruru, gobabisensis and rubidior (from various parts of NW & NC Namibia), all synonymized with harei, and austinrobertsi (from thornveld of Zimbabwe-Botswana-South Africa border region), synonymized with nominate. Six subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- trapnelli (C. M. N. White, 1943) - SE Angola and SW Zambia.
- makarikari (Roberts, 1932) - SW Angola, N Namibia and N & C Botswana.
- harei (Roberts, 1917) - NW & C Namibia.
- trapnelli (C. M. N. White, 1943) - SE Angola and SW Zambia.
- makarikari (Roberts, 1932) - SW Angola, N Namibia and N & C Botswana.
- harei (Roberts, 1917) - NW & C Namibia.
- sarwensis (Roberts, 1932) - W Botswana.
- africanoides (A. Smith, 1836) - S Namibia, S & E Botswana, W Zimbabwe and N & NE South Africa.
- vincenti (Roberts, 1938) - C Zimbabwe and S Mozambique.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A bird walking and foraging Locality Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Kalahari Gemsbok NP), Northern Cape Province, South Africa (ssp vincenti)
Helmut Schenkel Brunner 31 July 2003 5 years ago 17 sec 4.2 -
bird perched and singing Locality Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Ghanzi District, Botswana
Volkert van der Willigen 6 February 2005 3 years ago 30 sec 4 -
A bird on the ground Locality Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Ghanzi District, Botswana (ssp sarwensis)
Philip Griffin 2 August 2000 8 years ago 22 sec 3.4 -
An adult foraging on the ground and singing Locality Hwange National Park, Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe (ssp africanoides)
Greg Baker 16 September 1999 1 year ago 25 sec 3.3
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An adult perched in a tree.
Locality Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Kalahari Gemsbok NP), Northern Cape Province, South Africa (ssp africanoides)
Carmelo López 5 December 2010 2 years ago 3.5 -
A bird drinking
Locality Ghanzi District, Botswana
Aleix Comas 7 September 2007 3 years ago 3
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Singing from a low bush. 9:38am. Locality Mahango Game Reserve, Caprivi Region, Namibia
(ssp makarikari)
Charles Hesse 20 November 2009 3 years ago 4
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