Melanerpes santacruzi (1 Viewer)

[andrew147]

I know that 2 previous posts have discussed recent developments concerning Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, but I'm a little confused regarding the internal taxonomy of the Southern group, specifically the relationships of non-Mexican subspp.

Navarro-Sigüenza & Peterson group Mexican races into 3 'evolutionary species':

(i) grateloupensis, dubius, leei & veraecrucis
(ii)santacruzi & frontalis
(iii)polygrammus only

Were these subspp groups confirmed by García-Trejo et al and, if so, where does this leave non-Mexican races hughlandi, turneffensis, pauper, insulanus & canescens?

Also, what is meant by 'Lesson's Woodpecker' and/or 'Truxillo Woodpecker'?

Any help would be much appreciated

 

[Richard Klim]

Were these subspp groups confirmed by García-Trejo et al and, if so, where does this leave non-Mexican races hughlandi, turneffensis, pauper, insulanus & canescens?

García-Trejo et al 2009 proposes a split of M aurifrons Golden-fronted Woodpecker (monotypic), with all other sspp included within M santacruzi Velásquez's Woodpecker.
www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=148975
www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=156358

The paper notes that the recognition of M polygrammus as a distinct species (as suggested by Navarro-Sigüenza & Peterson 2004) is not supported - but no explicit discussion of N-S&P's M grateloupensis.

Hughlandi, turneffensis, insulanus and canescens were not sampled.

 

[Richard Klim]

Also, what is meant by 'Lesson's Woodpecker' and/or 'Truxillo Woodpecker'?

I guess that 'Lesson's Woodpecker' refers to grateloupensis Lesson 1839, and 'Truxillo Woodpecker' to pauper Ridgway 1888 (type locality Truxillo/Trujillo, Honduras).

 

[andrew147]

That's most helpful,

thank you

 

[mb1848]

Earbirding splitting Golden-fronted Woodpecker

I guess to answer Morgan, Earbirding is journal-like.
http://earbirding.com/blog/archives/4180

 

[Richard Klim]

An ear-splitting announcement!