Taxonomic status of the Degodi Lark Mirafra degodiensis, with notes on the voice of Gillett's Lark M. gilletti

Abstract

When first described, from two specimens taken at Bogol Manyo (='Bogol Mayo') in south-east Ethiopia in 1971, the Degodi Lark Mirafra degodiensis was considered a sibling species of the Horn of Africa's Gillett's Lark M. gilletti. However, subsequent field reports have failed to clarify how the two taxa can be separated. In order to evaluate the differences between Degodi Lark and Gillett's Lark we measured the two Degodi specimens (plus one we caught ourselves) and 43 Gillett's, reviewed the literature on the subject to assemble all the published diagnostic characters, and visited Bogol Manyo and adjacent areas to photograph, observe and sound-record both taxa. We find that there is no morphometric disjunction between the taxa, no evidence of vocal separation, no consistent plumage difference, and no molecular distinction. We therefore regard M. degodiensis as most probably a synonym of M. gilletti; if it is retained as a subspecies of gilletti it must be chiefly on account of its smaller mean size. © British Ornithologists' Club 2009.