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Taxonomic note
The north-eastern African forms of this complex were previously split as Foxy Lark Calendulauda alopex (del Hoyo & Collar 2016), largely on the basis of wide allopatry, from C. africanoides (del Hoyo & Collar 2016). However, the two populations are extremely similar or inseparable in plumage, structure and song, and the molecular phylogeny of Alström et al. (2013) and other, as yet unpublished, genetic analyses suggested that they are not deeply divergent. We therefore follow Howard & Moore and Donald & Alström (in prep) in treating them as conspecific, under the name Fawn-coloured Lark. The three subspecies alopex, macdonaldi and intercedens thus become subspecies of C. africanoides (HBW/BirdLife International 2021), which now has nine subspecies. Geographical variation largely clinal, plumage colour generally matching regional soil colour, and streaking reduced in more arid areas; subspecies broadly intergrade, and further study may reveal that several of those currently accepted are unsustainable; other named subspecies include omaruru, gobabisensis and rubidior (from various parts of NW & NC Namibia), all synonymized with harei, and austinrobertsi (thornveld of Zimbabwe–Botswana–South Africa border region), synonymized with nominate. Nine subspecies currently recognized.
Previously, C. africanoides (del Hoyo and Collar 2016) was listed as Mirafra africanoides, but genetic evidence situates it in present genus.

Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2021. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 6. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v6_Dec21.zip.

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as common (del Hoyo et al. 2004).

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: Fawn-coloured Lark Calendulauda africanoides. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/fawn-coloured-lark-calendulauda-africanoides on 06/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 06/01/2025.