It is endemic to Namibia where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

The dune lark is the only avian creature that has evolved the ability to survive in the Namib Desert, which is one of the driest regions in the world.

The dune lark was formally described in 1853 by the English naturalist Hugh Strickland based on specimens collected in Damaraland, a coastal belt near Walvis Bay in Namibia.

[6] Four subspecies are recognised:[4] Barlow's lark (Calendulauda barlowi) (including patae and cavei) was formerly considered to be a separate species.

It is now lumped with the dune lark based on the very shallow genetic divergence and the essentially identical size and vocalizations.