The Cape long-billed lark (''Certhilauda curvirostris''), also known as the Cape lark, Cape longbill or long-billed lark is a species of

lark Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. Larks have a cosmopolitan distribution with the largest number of species occurring in Africa. Only a single species, the horned lark, occurs in North America, and only Horsfield's bush lark oc ...

in the family

Alaudidae Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. Larks have a cosmopolitan distribution with the largest number of species occurring in Africa. Only a single species, the horned lark, occurs in North America, and only Horsfield's bush lark oc ...

. It is found in south-western Africa. Its natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s are semi-arid Karoo shrub and subtropical dry

shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It ...

and subtropical or dry lowland and highveld

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush ( Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...

. This lark is also found in croplands, farmlands and coastal fynbos.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Cape long-billed lark was originally placed in the genus ''

Alauda ''Alauda'' is a genus of larks found across much of Europe, Asia and in the mountains of north Africa, and one of the species (the Raso lark) endemic to the islet of Raso in the Cape Verde Islands. Further, at least two additional species are ...

'' (as ''A. curvirostris'').

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized: * ''C. c. falcirostris'' - Reichenow, 1916: Originally described as a separate species. Found in south-western Namibia to western South Africa * ''C. c. curvirostris'' - ( Hermann, 1783): Found in south-western South Africa Additionally, some authorities consider several other species to be either presently or formerly as subspecies of the Cape long-billed lark: *

Karoo long-billed lark 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. Taxonomy and systematics P ...

(as ''C. c. damarensis'', ''C. c. bradshawi'', ''C. c. subcoronata'' and ''C. c. gilli''). *

Benguela long-billed lark The Benguela long-billed lark (''Certhilauda benguelensis''), also known as the Benguela lark or Benguela longbill is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical ...

(as ''C. c. benguelensis'') * Eastern long-billed lark (as ''C. c. semitorquata''). * Agulhas long-billed lark (as ''C. c. brevirostris'').

References

External links

Image and Classification at Animal Diversity Web
* Cape long-billed lark
Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
Cape long-billed lark Fauna of South Africa Cape long-billed lark Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Alaudidae-stub