New bird species for Azerbaijan?

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

Dendrocopos (major) poelzami

Note the brownish underparts