• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Climate Change maps
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence under 20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (under 10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be over 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (over 30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
The population is estimated to number fewer than 20,000 pairs within the species's core range in Botswana, thought to hold 80-90% of the total global population (C. Brewster in litt. 2009). The total global population is therefore estimated to lie within the band 50,000-99,999 individuals. The species currently appears to be stable within its core range in Botswana, which holds an estimated 80-90% of the global population. Some declines may have taken place in South Africa, but the overall decline is not thought to approach 30% within ten years or three generations (C. Brewster in litt. 2009).

Trend justification
The species currently appears to be stable within its core range in Botswana, which holds an estimated 80-90% of the global population. Some declines may have taken place in South Africa, but the overall decline is not thought to approach 30% within ten years or three generations (C. Brewster in litt. 2009).

Certhilauda chuana has two disjunct populations: one on the Pietersburg Plateau in the Northern Province, South Africa, and a larger population in south-eastern Botswana and the North-west Province, South Africa. This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 100,000 km². The South African population numbers 500-5,000 individuals, and there may be over 20,000 pairs in Botswana, which is thought to hold 80-90% of the total population (C. Brewster in litt. 2007). The species may have undergone a localised range contraction and population reduction in South Africa, although its distribution may also be influenced by seasonal or eruptive movements and it appears to be stable within its core range in Botswana (C. Brewster in litt. 2007).

It prefers open habitat, sparsely vegetated with short grass and scattered trees or bushes, particularly where grass has been severely grazed. In South Africa it is associated with Tarchonanthus bushveld. In Botswana it is restricted to areas under traditional agricultural regimes, especially fallow land with coppiced Acacia tortilis and heavy livestock grazing (Harrison et al. 1997b).

Changes in agricultural policies that favour bush thickening or the reduction of open, lightly-grassed habitat could reduce populations significantly (Penry 1994, Barnes 2000). In southeastern Botswana Short-clawed Lark is almost completely confined to fallow land that has been cultivated for field crops using traditional agricultural practices. In recent years there has been a large decline in the area of land cultivated with sorghum and maize using traditional practices (C. Brewster in litt. 2007). This decline, if it continues, has the potential to have an adverse impact on Short-clawed Lark in southeastern Botswana However, despite large-scale habitat alteration occurring in many areas, the eastern population in Botswana is apparently stable (C. Brewster in litt. 2007), and it remains fairly common in suitable habitats (W. Borello in litt. 2007).

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Consider government incentives to farmers in southeast Botswana to maintain traditional agricultural methods (C. Brewster in litt. 2007). Carry out regular monitoring of the core population in Botswana as well as that in South Africa.

Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Short-clawed Lark Certhilauda chuana. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/short-clawed-lark-certhilauda-chuana on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.