Abstract

Genetic analysis of the Western Palearctic’s only record of Hume’s Lark Calandrella acutirostris, from Eilat, Israel, in February 1986, showed it to be of the nominate subspecies, suggesting that it originated from the west of the species’ range, in Iran or Afghanistan. Assignment to subspecies level is essential in light of potential future taxonomic rearrangements within the species.Shirihai & Alstrцm (1990) described the discovery and trapping of a Hume’s Lark Calandrella acutirostris present at Eilat, Israel, on 4th–14th February 1986, and its subsequent identification after comparison with skins at the Natural History Museum, Tring. It represents the first and, to date, only record for the Western Palearctic. The skin has been retained in the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, accession number AV-9983, ring number X-03853.