On the migratory status of the Patagonian population of the Striped Woodpecker Picoides lignarius
Mazar Barnett, J. 2003.
On the migratory status of the Patagonian population of the Striped Woodpecker Picoides lignarius.
Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 123: 130–135.
Abstract
(Conclusions )
The reports of P. lignarius for Córdoba and La Rioja Provinces in most recent literature all refer to repetitions of the original references for these provinces. The view that the species migrates to these areas in winter stems from an assumption, without presenting additional information, and the perpetration of this mistake. A study of specimens on which the presence of P. lignarius in these provinces was based reveals that those from Córdoba (originally labeled as P. mixtus) were subsequently misidentified, as was likely the case with the one from La Rioja, now lost. The available study skins and literature from these regions demonstrate that only P. mixtus occurs there. Furthermore, there are no recent mentions of P. lignarius north of Neuquén Province, outside the Patagonian forest, in Argentina. The review of specific literature, coupled with comments from current local ornithologists show that P. lignarius is resident throughout its range, and it is likely that it undertakes only regional movements, possibly in response to particularly harsh winter conditions.
