diff --git a/pybedlite/bed_source.py b/pybedlite/bed_source.py
index ee8eb13..49f2f29 100644
--- a/pybedlite/bed_source.py
+++ b/pybedlite/bed_source.py
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def parse_rgb(x: str) -> Tuple[int, int, int]:
                 continue
             if line.strip() == "":
                 continue
-            fields = line.strip().split("\t")
+            fields = line.strip().split()
             assert len(fields) >= 3, (
                 "BED records must conform to specifications, which requires at least 3 input "
                 + f"fields. On line {i} in {self._path} had only {len(fields)} fields"
diff --git a/pybedlite/tests/test_pybedlite.py b/pybedlite/tests/test_pybedlite.py
index 1843538..b996c3b 100644
--- a/pybedlite/tests/test_pybedlite.py
+++ b/pybedlite/tests/test_pybedlite.py
@@ -14,9 +14,15 @@
 # Test header, with a line with whitespace below it.
 
 # More header
+
+# BED record with tabs as a separator
 1	100	150	test_record1	100	+	100	100	0,0,0	1	50	0
-1	200	300	test_record2	100	-	210	290	0,0,0	1	100	0
-2	200	300	test_record3	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
+
+# BED record with spaces as a separator
+1 200 300 test_record2 100 - 210 290 0,0,0 1 100	0
+
+# BED record with a mix of spaces and tabs as a separator
+2 	 200 	 300 	 test_record3 	 . 	 . 	 . 	 . 	 . 	 . 	 . 	 .
 """