Quiz woodpecker 39

Which species is this ? And why ? Photo taken by Thomas Hochebner in Austria.

Atypical/first winter female Great Spotted Woodpecker

This photo shows a female Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major with atypical head markings, that is, the black post-aurical stripe does not touch the nape. It is incomplete. This might suggest that the bird is a Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus (see photos in previous 2 posts) but other plumage features, such as red rather than pink under-tail coverts, white outer-tail feathers and a sturdy bill indicate Great Spotted. Could this bird be a hybrid Great Spotted X Syrian? Perhaps, but I think not as such atypical features are not uncommon on Great Spotted Woodpeckers, especially first winter birds. I believe this bird to be an atypical specimen rather than a hybrid. The photo was taken recently by Mladen Vasilev in Bulgaria.

Gallery: Male Syrian Woodpecker

Adult male Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus. Note the red on the nape (females lack this). Photo taken in Budapest, Hungary.

Gallery: Female Syrian Woodpecker

Adult female Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus. Note lack of red on the nape (males have red there). Black outer tail, broken, incomplete post-auricular stripe, relatively large white forehead patch and pink ventral area, rather than red, all help separation from Great Spotted Woodpecker. Photo taken in Budapest, Hungary.

Quiz woodpecker 38

Which species of European woodpecker is this ? And why ?