The name comes from the long claw on the rear toe characteristic of the pipit family (Motacillidae) which provides balance when walking on the ground. There are eight species of longclaws, all confined to Africa and all but one in the genus Macronyx. Longclaws are rather sturdy, upright, terrestrial birds that may remind Americans of the unrelated meadowlarks (Sturnella sp.) in the family Icteridae. In fact, their similarity is often used as a classic example of evolutionary convergence.
Key differences between Yellow-throated and Pangani (M. aurantiigula) longclaws are the more extensive yellow on Yellow-throated extending all the way to the thighs. Also note the buff ground color to the flanks with fine brown streaks instead of white flanks with more oval-shaped streaks characteristic of Pangani. Pangani occurs primarily east of the Rift Valley but has expanded its range so it now overlaps the Yellow-throated west of the Rift.
Most sources (Clements, Howard & Moore) recognize no subspecies, but Roberts 7th recognizes four, with two in South Africa. HBW recognizes three, noting that there is much individual variation and not all may be valid.
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