Text & Photos © M. Heiß
The results of a recently published article
propose to differentiate four species within the greater spotted woodpecker
complex. One of them is Dendrocopos (major) poelzami that occurs in northern Iran and the adjacent Talysh
Mountains in Azerbaijan. The latter is the only place within the Western Palearctic where it can be found.
In field, it is distinguishable by its
brownish underparts and softer calls, which support a soon split.
Reference:
Perktaş, U. and Quintero, E. (2012), A wide
geographical survey of mitochondrial DNA variation in the great spotted
woodpecker complex, Dendrocopos major (Aves: Picidae). Biological
Journal of the Linnean Society. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.02003.x
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| Dendrocopos (major) poelzami |
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| Note the brownish underparts |
