Karoo lark (as "Certhilauda albescens barlowi") to be subspecies of the Karoo lark. Karoo lark "The Karoo lark should not be confused with the similarly named Karoo long-billed lark." The Karoo lark ("Calendulauda albescens") or red-backed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is endemic to South Africa where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. The Karoo lark was originally classified in the genus "Alauda" and subsequently "Mirafra" and "Certhilauda", until moved to "Calendulauda" by the IOC in 2009. Not all authorities have followed this taxonomy change. Four subspecies are recognized: Formerly, some authorities considered
Karoo later years, when not only the feathers were sought after, but also ostrich leather, and its meat, which is very tasty, and a major export item. Today, several farms can be visited by tourists, near Oudtshoorn, the center of the ostrich industry. The first European settlers landed in the Cape of Good Hope in 1652, and between 1659 and 1664, made several unsuccessful attempts to penetrate the Great Karoo from the south-west. The Europeans who first entered the Great Karoo did so from the south-east (traveling north from Algoa Bay), which is slightly less arid than the western Karoo. These