''Certhilauda'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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 occu ...

s 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 occu ...

living in the southern regions of Africa. The genus was formerly named ''Heterocorys''.

Taxonomy and systematics

Extant species

The genus ''Certhilauda'' contains six species: *

Short-clawed lark The short-clawed lark (''Certhilauda chuana'') or short-clawed bush-lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Botswana and South Africa. Its natural habitat is dry savannah. Taxonomy and systematics Originally, the shor ...

(''Certhilauda chuana'') * Karoo long-billed lark (''Certhilauda subcoronata'') * Benguela long-billed lark (''Certhilauda benguelensis'') *

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

(''Certhilauda semitorquata'') *

Cape long-billed lark The Cape long-billed lark (''Certhilauda curvirostris''), also known as the Cape lark, Cape longbill or long-billed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa. Its natural habitats are semi-arid Karoo s ...

(''Certhilauda curvirostris'') * Agulhas long-billed lark (''Certhilauda brevirostris'')

Former species

Some authorities, either presently or formerly, recognize several additional species or subspecies as belonging to the genus ''Certhilauda'', including: *

Greater hoopoe-lark The greater hoopoe-lark (''Alaemon alaudipes'') is a passerine bird which is a breeding resident of arid, desert and semi-desert regions from the Cape Verde Islands across much of northern Africa, through the Arabian peninsula, Syria, Afghanista ...

(as the bifasciated lark, ''Certhilauda desertorum'') * Eastern greater hoopoe-lark (as ''Certhilauda doriae'') *

Spike-heeled lark The spike-heeled lark (''Chersomanes albofasciata'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or fl ...

(as ''Certhilauda albofasciata'') * Spike-heeled lark (kalahariae) (as ''Certhilauda kalahariae'') * Spike-heeled lark (garrula) (as ''Certhilauda garrula'') *

Rufous-rumped lark The rufous-rumped lark (''Pinarocorys erythropygia'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in western and central Africa from Mali, Guinea and Sierra Leone to eastern Sudan, South Sudan and north-western Uganda. Its natural h ...

(as ''Certhilauda erythropygia'') *

Karoo lark ''The Karoo lark should not be confused with the similarly named Karoo long-billed lark.'' The Karoo lark (''Calendulauda albescens'') or red-backed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is endemic to South Africa where its nat ...

(as ''Certhilauda albescens'') *

Red lark The red lark (''Calendulauda burra''), also known as the ferruginous lark or ferruginous sand-lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in western South Africa and possibly Namibia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tr ...

(as ''Certhilauda burra'', ''Certhilauda erythroclamys'' or ''Certhilauda harei'') *

Dune lark The dune lark (''Calendulauda erythrochlamys'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is endemic to Namibia where its natural habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors ...

(as ''Certhilauda erythrochlamys'') *

Barlow's lark Barlow's lark (''Calendulauda barlowi'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Namibia and South Africa where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss. Taxonomy and sy ...

(as ''Certhilauda barlowi'') * Somali lark (as ''Certhilauda somalica'')

References

Bird genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Alaudidae-stub