Species names in all available languages
| Language | Common name |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | Kortkloulewerik |
| Catalan | alosa d'ungles curtes |
| Dutch | Botswanaleeuwerik |
| English | Short-clawed Lark |
| English (United States) | Short-clawed Lark |
| French | Alouette à ongles courts |
| French (France) | Alouette à ongles courts |
| German | Akazien-Langschnabellerche |
| Japanese | コウゲンヤブヒバリ |
| Norwegian | kortklolerke |
| Polish | szponiak krótkoszpony |
| Russian | Короткокоготный жаворонок |
| Serbian | Bocvanska ševa |
| Slovak | škovránok pasienkový |
| Spanish | Alondra Chuana |
| Spanish (Spain) | Alondra chuana |
| Swedish | kortklolärka |
| Turkish | Kısa Parmaklı Toygar |
| Ukrainian | Жайворонок ботсванійський |
Revision Notes
This account is part of the 8th edition of Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. This project is a joint collaboration between the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. G. Derek Engelbrecht revised the account. Peter Pyle contributed to the Plumages, Molts, and Structure page. Peter F. D. Boesman contributed to the Vocalizations section. Huy C. Truong updated the distribution map. Leo Gilman copy edited the account. Arnau Bonan Barfull curated the media. Shawn M. Billerman and Paul G. Rodewald reviewed the account.
Certhilauda chuana (Smith, 1836)
Definitions
- CERTHILAUDA
- chuana
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Short-clawed Lark Certhilauda chuana Scientific name definitions
Version: 2.0 — Published February 23, 2023
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Photos from this Account
Short-clawed Lark.
Short-clawed Lark.
Possible confusion species: Eastern Long-billed Lark (Certhilauda semitorquata).
Eastern Long-billed Lark (subspecies transvaalensis) has minimal dorsal streaking resulting in an overall more rufous appearance, the supercilium is shorter and less pronounced, and the eyes are generally paler.
Possible confusion species: Eastern Long-billed Lark (Certhilauda semitorquata).
Eastern Long-billed Lark (subspecies transvaalensis) has minimal dorsal streaking resulting in an overall more rufous appearance.
Short-clawed Lark.
Possible confusion species: Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana).
Rufous-naped Lark (subspecies transvaalensis) is an overall stockier lark, has a heavier bill, the mandible is pinkish-gray for almost its entire length; it has a distinctly rufous erectile crest, a rufous panel on the folded wing.
Possible confusion species: Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana).
A handheld Short-clawed Lark (front) and Rufous-naped Lark (subspecies transvaalensis) (back) to show plumage and structural differences in appearance.
Short-clawed Lark.
Possible confusion species: Sabota Lark (Calendulauda sabota).
Sabota Lark (subspecies sabota) is smaller and more compact, with a shorter tail, a shorter and heavier bill, distinct moustachial streaks and malar stripes, buff to rufous distal vanes of the outer rectrices.
Possible confusion species: Sabota Lark (Calendulauda sabota).
Sabota Lark (front) and Short-clawed Lark (back) to show plumage and structural differences.
Formative or Definitive Basic Short-clawed Lark.
The tertials are greatly enlarged and form a "cloak" over the underlying secondaries and primaries in the folded wing
Formative or Definitive Basic Short-clawed Lark.
The tertials are greatly enlarged and form a "cloak" over the underlying secondaries and primaries in the folded wing
Formative or Definitive Basic Short-clawed Lark.
The tertials are greatly enlarged and form a "cloak" over the underlying secondaries and primaries in the folded wing
Formative or Definitive Basic Short-clawed Lark.
There is little to no geographic variation in plumage appearance but staining as a result of dust bathing may cause subtle plumages differences on a local scale; this individual appears heavily stained.
Formative or Definitive Basic Short-clawed Lark.
Staining as a result of dust bathing may cause subtle plumages differences on a local scale; this individual appears lightly stained.
Natal Down in Short-clawed Lark.
Hatchlings have tufts of long, buff to straw-colored down on the capital, femoral, spinal, and humeral feather tracts.
Natal Down in Short-clawed Lark.
Some nestlings show paler buff down.
Natal Down in Short-clawed Lark.
Some nestlings show straw-colored down.
Short-clawed Larks completing Prejuvenile Molt.
The prejuvenile molt occurs in the nest.
Juvenile Short-clawed Lark.
Juvenile plumage is similar to definitive basic plumage but the dark brown crown, mantle, back, and upperwing coverts have broad, whitish-buff to pale rufous tips, giving a spotted appearance. Fledglings can still have some down-tipped feathers, notably the feathers of the supercilium, some of the coverts, the rectrices, and contour feathers of the back and nape.
Juvenile Short-clawed Lark.
The spots on the upper breast of juveniles are more prominent and more rounded than in later plumages. Juvenile feathers are filamentous due to lower barb densities than in later feather generations.
Formative or Definitive Basic Short-clawed Lark.
Following the complete preformative molt, these two plumages are indistinguishable. The long, relatively broad, pale-buff to almost white supercilium extends from the base of the bill to the nape; ear coverts are pale to rich rufous-brown, tending towards darker brown on the upper and posterior margin; ear coverts are accentuated by the combination of their dark tips on the edges and their pale margin, creating a relatively well-defined C-shape. It is possible that the newer tertials may result from a limited prealternate molt but further study is needed (see Molts).
Formative or Definitive Basic Short-clawed Lark.
Chin and throat are plain whitish to buff, but are paler than the breast and the rest of the underparts; upper breast and lower throat feathers have dark brown tips resembling upward-pointing arrows; the remainder of the underparts is cream to pale-rufous, depending on the color of the substrate.
Short-clawed Lark completing Definitive Prebasic Molt during March in northwestern South Africa.
Inner primaries p1–p6, outer secondaries s1–s3, and tertials s7 & s9 are new or growing, while the outer primaries (p7–p10) and middle secondaries (s4–s6) have not been replaced yet. The older middle tertial (s8) indicates that it was replaced earlier in the season followed by a molt suspension.
Short-clawed Lark undergoing molt while breeding.
The new (right wing) and growing (left wing) middle tertials (s8), along with some newer back feathers, indicate active molting. Presumably this is the commencement of the definitive prebasic molt, perhaps to be suspended later in the breeding season and resumed following breeding.
Adult Short-clawed Lark.
The black gape and palate are visible when calling or panting. The tongue is a yellowish-orange color. Legs and feet in adults are a pale pinkish-gray to pale yellowish-tan color.
Foot of an adult Short-clawed Lark.
The species' common name refers to the short, decurved hind claw that is usually shorter than the hind toe, possibly an adaptation for a species inhabiting areas of sparse grassland on hard soils.
Short-clawed Lark's preferred habitat is semi-arid Vachellia savanna, sparsely vegetated with short grass and scattered low bushes; North West, South Africa
Short-clawed Lark’s habitat; Limpopo, South Africa.
Short-clawed Lark’s habitat; Limpopo, South Africa.
Short-clawed Lark is favored by moderate to heavy grazing, deforestation, and harvesting of wood for fuel and construction purposes.
Bird with termite.
Adult with spider for nestlings.
An adult freezing motionless in response to a threat.
A male Short-clawed Lark (tail raised) performing a courtship dance to a female.
Female building its nest.
Nest with one egg; general view.
A Short-clawed Lark nest placed at the base of a grass tuft, with the leaves concealing the nest.
A Short-clawed Lark nest with two ~5-day-old nestlings; general view.
Short-clawed Lark nest with three eggs; general view.
A Short-clawed Lark nest with two 9-day-old nestlings; general view.
Short-clawed Lark nest under a tuft of grass.
Note the grass culmns that were deliberately brought to the nest to disrupt the outline of the nest.
Nest; general view.
Although in the open, Short-clawed Lark nests are usually placed at the base of vegetation which provides some shade during the day's heat.
A Short-clawed Lark nest with a well-developed apron.
A Short-clawed Lark nest containing two eggs.
This Short-clawed Lark nest is a mere scrape in the ground with minimum lining, but the female will continue to add lining during the incubation period.
A Short-clawed Lark nest with an extensive apron around it.
Clutch of two eggs.
Clutch of three eggs.
Female incubating.
A Short-clawed Lark hatching.
Hatchlings.
Two 3-day-old Short-clawed Lark nestlings.
Two 9-day-old Short-clawed Lark nestlings.
Two 9-day-old Short-clawed Lark nestlings, showing dark tongue spots.
Two 11-day-old Short-clawed Lark nestlings.
Dog investigating nestlings.
Short-clawed Lark nestlings' first line of defense is to remain motionless when threatened. This clutch of three nestlings escaped predation by a dog by remaining motionless when the dog was investigating the nest. One of the nestlings can be seen to the left of the dog's leg.
One nestling is swallowing a centipede that one of the parents just delivered.
Short-clawed Lark delivering food (Orthoptera) to nestlings.
An adult female Short-clawed Lark with a fecal sac.
A 13-day-old Short-clawed Lark fledgling.
Ticks on the head of a Short-clawed Lark.
Two Short-clawed Lark nestlings in their flooded nest.
Although often a disaster, these two chicks survived as the adult female brought fresh lining for the cup.
Short-clawed Lark is a rather confiding species and is often found on the edges of rural villages.
Short-clawed Lark is often found on the edges of rural villages.
Macaulay Library Photos for Short-clawed Lark
Top-rated photos submitted to the Macaulay Library via eBird. Note: Our content editors have not confirmed the species identification for these photos.