Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei)

Usually considered conspecific with P. viridis and P. vaillantii, but differs from former in having very little or no black on face, so that face grey with red crown and red malar vs face black (on lores, supercilium to above eye, ocular area, moustachial area and in thin line around red malar) (3); red on crown narrower, allowing a grey-green supercilium (black in viridis) to continue over eye and also ear-coverts vs broader line covering postocular superciliary area and thus adjacent to ear-coverts (2); iris browner, not so white and thus much less contrasting (pale brown in grey face vs white in black face) (1); ear-coverts, neck and breast washed grey (ns[1]); black subterminal bars on grey-based red-tipped crown feathers (ns[1]); significant vocal differences involving patterns of dominant frequency and acceleration of the advertising-call (“song”)#R (2); narrow zone of intergradation in S France#R#R (2)); differs from vaillantii (geographically and morphologically closer) in its red vs black malar on male (3), blackish vs whitish area from commissure below lores back along cheek above malar (2), black-spotted red vs blackish-grey crown of female (2), little or no barring on lower underparts (ns[1]). Monotypic.