Larks (Alaudidae)
Karoo Lark (Calendulauda albescens) - HBW 9, p. 560
French: Alouette du Karroo
German: Karoolerche
Spanish: Alondra del Karoo
Taxonomy: Alauda albescens Lafresnaye, 1839, Blouberg, Cape Town, South Africa.
Forms a superspecies with C. burra, C. barlowi and C. erythrochlamys, and is basal within this group. Hybridizes with C. barlowi in NW of range (narrow zone between Port Nolloth and R Orange). Geographical variation marked in Northern Cape, with switch from coastal race codea to inland guttata remarkably sharp (complete replacement within a few kilometres) and few intermediates; otherwise, clinal variation between races broad in some areas; other named taxa are saldanhae, which is an intergrade between nominate and guttata, and calvin.. View all taxonomy...
Forms a superspecies with C. burra, C. barlowi and C. erythrochlamys, and is basal within this group. Hybridizes with C. barlowi in NW of range (narrow zone between Port Nolloth and R Orange). Geographical variation marked in Northern Cape, with switch from coastal race codea to inland guttata remarkably sharp (complete replacement within a few kilometres) and few intermediates; otherwise, clinal variation between races broad in some areas; other named taxa are saldanhae, which is an intergrade between nominate and guttata, and calviniensis, which is intermediate between latter and karruensis. Four subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- codea (A. Smith, 1843) - Port Nolloth S to Elands Bay, in NW South Africa.
- albescens (Lafresnaye, 1839) - Saldanha Bay S to Cape Town.
- guttata (Lafresnaye, 1839) - W parts (except coastal areas) of Northern Cape (S from Richtersveld) and Western Cape.
- karruensis Roberts, 1936 - C Karoo.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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One of a pair found in coastal dunes a few km. south of Port Nolloth.
Locality Port Nolloth, Northern Cape Province, South Africa (ssp codea)
David Beadle 1 February 2011 2 years ago 3.9
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Response to playback. Singing from the top of a low bush. Locality West Coast National Park, Western Cape Province, South Africa
(ssp albescens)
Charles Hesse 3 November 2009 2 years ago 4
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