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Woodpecker, Bulgaria (1 Viewer)

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Well-known member
Hello to all,

Please, help us with the ID of this Woodpecker, recorded two days ago in Western Bulgaria.

Thank you!
 

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I think this is a Middle Spotted Woodpecker D. medius?!
crown is all red and there is clear streeking and a rosy hue on breast/belly (too much streaking and too wide distribution of rosy coloration for Syrian woodpecker)
And also in a young D. syriacus there would be some black between the white feathers above eye and the red cap
 
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I think this is a Middle Spotted Woodpecker D. medius?!
crown is all red and there is clear streeking and a rosy hue on breast/belly (too much streaking and too wide distribution of rosy coloration for Syrian woodpecker)
And also in a young D. syriacus there would be some black between the white feathers above eye and the red cap

Thank you, Joern Lehmhus!

This is cropped and lightened image of the bird. The black on head reaches the bill base, which is against MSW. Also, maybe the bill is too large for this species.
 

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Is it the lilfordi race of a White-backed Woodpecker?

No I don't think so. That has a stronger malar and white barring on the back. I found this bird difficult initially because I thought it had Syrian shape but middle-spotted colours. Now I can see that there is actually a black lower edge to the red cap, at least at the back and to about halfway along. As well as the bill being too heavy/long for middle-spotted, so the tail is too long as well.
 
I think this is a Middle Spotted Woodpecker D. medius?!
crown is all red and there is clear streeking and a rosy hue on breast/belly (too much streaking and too wide distribution of rosy coloration for Syrian woodpecker)
And also in a young D. syriacus there would be some black between the white feathers above eye and the red cap

Another vote that it is not MSW. Just too bulky, thick breast and flank streaking rather than fine and the bill is too large for a Middle Spotted. I find that Middle has a gentler, kinder facial expression.
 
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Yeah, no way I would see a MSW in this either, it screams "the big kind" at first sight by shape - GSW/WBW/Syrian. I would however leave the decision between those to the more knowledgeable :)
 
I also think we may be deceived by the blurryness of the photo, I tried to draw what I see as possible outline of the head and the end of the bill, then the bill looks much smaller; comparing with the ivy leaves (Hedera helix) I also think this is not such a big bird.
 

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