Larks (Alaudidae) - HBW 9

Bimaculated Lark (Melanocorypha bimaculata)

French: Alouette monticole German: Bergkalanderlerche Spanish: Calandria Bimaculada
Other common names: Eastern Calandra Lark

Taxonomy: Alauda bimaculata Ménétriés, 1832, mountains near Talysh (= Talyshskiye Goro), on Azerbaijan-Iran border.
Geographical variation slight; rufous-tinged birds from Asia Minor described as race rufescens and paler ones from E Iran and Afghanistan as torquata, but considered insufficiently distinct to merit subspecific separation. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds from WC Turkey E to Armenia, S Azerbaijan and W & S Iran and, E of Caspian Sea, to SE Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, NE Iran and N Afghanistan; also isolated populations in Lebanon, N Israel, S Syria and N Iraq. Winters in NE Africa, S Middle East and N Arabia E to NW India.