Larks (Alaudidae) - HBW 9
Fawn-coloured Lark (Calendulauda africanoides)
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
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A bird walking and foraging Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Kalahari Gemsbok NP), Northern Cape Province, South Africa (ssp vincenti)
Helmut Schenkel Br... 31 July 2003 2 years ago 17 sec 4.2 -
A bird on the ground Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana (ssp sarwensis)
Philip Griffin 2 August 2000 5 years ago 22 sec 3.4 -
A bird on the ground, a windy day Yabello, Ethiopia (ssp alopex)
Josep del Hoyo 12 December 2005 3 years ago 25 sec 3.2
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a bird singing on a stone Amboseli National Park, Kenya (ssp ??)
Stefan Helming 28 December 2009 10 weeks ago 4.3 -
A bird drinking Botswana
Aleix Comas 7 September 2007 15 weeks ago 2.5
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Singing from a low bush. 9:38am. Mahango Game Reserve, Caprivi Region, Namibia
(ssp makarikari)
Charles Hesse 20 November 2009 13 weeks ago 4
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