Karoo long-billed lark

The Karoo long-billed lark 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

Previously, the Karoo long-billed lark was considered by some authorities to comprise several subspecies of the Cape long-billed lark.

Subspecies

Six subspecies are recognised:

C. s. damarensis – west-central Namibia
C. s. bradshawi – southern Namibia and northwestern South Africa
C. s. subcoronata Smith, A, 1843 – west-central South Africa, southward to central Karoo
C. s. gilli Roberts, A, 1936 – south-central South Africa
C. s. benguelensis – far coastal southwestern Angola and northern Namibia
C. s. kaokoensis Bradfield, RD, 1944 – Brandberg Mountains

Subspecies C. s. benguelensis together with C. s. kaokoensis, have sometimes been treated as a separate species, the Benguela long-billed lark. The two taxa are considered to be subspecies of the Karoo long-billed lark based on the similar vocalization and the uncertain affinities of the intermediate taxon damarensis.