Kingdom Animalia Order Passeriformes Genus Certhilauda Higher classification Certhilauda | Phylum Chordata Family Alaudidae Scientific name Certhilauda chuana Rank Species | |
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Similar Eastern long‑billed lark, Karoo long‑billed lark, Lark, Bird, Black‑eared sparrow‑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.
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Taxonomy and systematics
Originally, the short-clawed lark was classified as belonging to the genus Alauda and then Mirafra until moved to Calendulauda. Not all authorities recognize this re-classification from Mirafra.
Behaviour and ecology
The species lays clutches of two or three eggs (average clutch sizes in two studies 2.27-2.75 eggs). The incubation lasts for around 15 days, the longest of any African lark species. After fledging, chicks remain with their parents for 6–8 weeks. There is some variation in nesting strategies in the species, with the eastern population (in South Africa) having numerous broods per breeding season and the western population (in Botswana) breeding once per season.
