Sunday 27 March 2011

Quiz woodpecker 39

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

Sunday 20 March 2011

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.

Monday 14 March 2011

Gallery: Male Syrian Woodpecker

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

Monday 7 March 2011

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.

Tuesday 1 March 2011