PICUS PCELZAML 



(CAUCASIAN SPOTTED WOODPECKER.) 



Picus pcelzami, Bogdanoff, Ptitz. Kavkaz. p. 121 (1879). 



Pious major pcelzami, Seebohm, P. Z. S. 1884, p. 409. 



Picus major (nee Linn.), Lorenz, Beitr. Orn. Nords. Kauk. p. 44 (1887). 



Bendrocopus poelzami (Bogd.), Hargitt, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xviii. p. 214 (1890). 



Persidski-dyatell, Russian. 



Figura unica. 

 Badde, Orn. Cauc. pi. xx. 



<J ad. P. majori similis,,sed minor, rostro graciliore : corpore subtus nee isabellino albo, sed fusco : alis minus 

 albo notatis, facile distinguendus. 



$ ad. mari similis, sed nucha nigra, nee rubro notata. 



Adult Male (Lenkoran). Resembles P. major, but smaller in size, the bill more slender, and the underparts 

 instead of being white or creamy white are dark brown ; much less white on the inner wing-coverts 

 than in P. major. Total length about 8"5 inches, culinen 1*4, wing 4'85, tail 3"0, tarsus O^o. 



Adult Female (Lenkoran). Resembles the male, except that the red occipital band is wanting. Total 

 length about 8 - 25 inches, culmen 1"1, wing 4 - 65, tail 2'9, tarsus 085. 



Young (Jide Hargitt). Differs from the adult of both sexes in having the crown crimson, the red occipital 

 band characteristic of the adult male is wanting and replaced by black; the general colour above of a 

 sooty black, without any blue gloss; forehead dusky brown; a dusky stripe behind the eye and 

 including the upper half of the ear-coverts; sides of the face and neck smoky white; under surface of 

 the body smoky brown, the sides of the body, flanks, and thighs having faint dusky striations ; vent 

 and under tail-coverts brick-red. 



The present species appears to be confined to the Caucasus, and has therefore a somewhat 

 restricted range. Dr. Badde, who says that he only knows of it as inhabiting the country 

 bordering the southern shores of the Caspian, writes (I. c.) as follows: — "This Woodpecker 

 certainly migrates in winter in large numbers from the mountains of Talysch to the woods on 

 the plains, but a considerable number pass the summer in these, and commence nidification as 

 early as the middle of March, making use for the purposes of nidification of hollow trees 

 (Quercus castanecefolia, Carpinus, Fagus, Ulmus, Pterocaria, Sec). In the winter it is common 

 there, and even in the town of Lenkoran, and from ten to fifteen may without trouble be secured 

 in a day." He adds that it is found in the woods as high as about 6000 feet above the sea-level. 

 Mr. Lorenz met with it in the Northern Caucasus, on the Bermamit in February, and the 

 Muscht Mountain in March. 



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