The Mongolian short-toed lark was originally placed in the genus Alauda.

It was then considered as a subspecies of the morphologically similar greater short-toed lark, but recent analyses of both mitochondrial[2][3] and nuclear DNA[3] showed that it was more closely related to Hume's short-toed lark.

It was split in 2016 by the IOC, although not all other authorities have recognized this re-classification to date.

The alternate name short-toed lark may also be used for three other species in the genus Calandrella.

[6] The Mongolian short-toed lark breeds on the Tibetan plateau and winters mainly in peninsular India.