Friday, 28 August 2009

Quiz woodpecker 29B

Here is another video clip by Dan Bastaja of the "pied" woodpecker shown in the clip below. Some responses have said it is a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker. If that is so, which features rule out juvenile Syrian Woodpecker ?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

the long moustachial stripe?

Gerard Gorman said...

I think you mean the post-auricular stripe don't you ? The ones you can see on the cheeks ? On this clip you cannot see any moustachial or malar stripes. The post-auricular stripes almost, but do not, touch the nape. There is a gap. Now THAT is typical for Syrian and Middle Spotted but these stripes often do not touch the nape on juvenile Great Spotteds and this can be confusing. GG

Anonymous said...

aja

Northumbrian Birding said...

Is it the white notches near the lower tail edges which are absent on Syrian and lack of streaks on flanks ?.
Brian

Gerard Gorman said...

Brian, the white outer-tail feathers are the key point on the bird in this this clip. Syrians (adults & juveniles) never show this much white in the tail.