Photo: Andrew Smith / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Karoo Lark
Calendulauda albescens
Karoo Lark (Calendulauda albescens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Karoo Lark (Calendulauda albescens) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 30.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Alaudidae Larks
- Genus Calendulauda
- Species albescens
Quick facts
- Weight
- 30.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Karoo Lark is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Karoo Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Karoo Lark (Calendulauda albescens) is a species of bird in the Alaudidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 30.4 g, with a wing length of about 8.6 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 284,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Karoo Lark?
The Karoo Lark is a small bird that weighs around 30.4 g.
Where does the Karoo Lark live?
The Karoo Lark is found across Africa with a range covering AF South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Karoo Lark belong to?
The Karoo Lark (Calendulauda albescens) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Karoo Lark eat?
The Karoo Lark is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Karoo Lark migrate?
The Karoo Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Karoo Lark endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Karoo Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Karoo Lark — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Karoo Lark's range?
The Karoo Lark has a mapped global range of about 284,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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