Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei)

OTHER NAMES: Iberian Woodpecker

Latin Etymology: Picus ("woodpecker") sharpei (named for Orithologist Dr Richard Bowdler Sharpe)

Adult female Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei) at Parque Oeste, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 180-220g  /  Length: 31-33cm  /  Wingspan: 45-51cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern  

The Iberian Woodpecker is a close relation of the more widespread Green Woodpecker, which until recently it was considered part of the same species.  Visually, it differs in that it lacks the black mask that Green Woodpeckers normally have.  It seems to be fairly common in the forested parks of Madrid, I heard them calling or caught glimpses on a number of occasions before this very obliging individual landed on a tree in front of me where I could get clear views.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picus
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Pito reál ("Royal Whistle")

Fairly common resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen at Parque Oeste and heard at El Retiro 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Heard at El Pardo

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

European Serin (Serinus serinus)

OTHER NAMES: Serin

Latin Etymology: Serinus ("serin/canary") serinus ("serin/canary")

                                           Adult male European Serin (Serinus serinus) at El Retiro, Madrid, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 8.5-14g  /  Length: 11-12cm  /  Wingspan: 20-23cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The vibrant colours might give it away, but this species is a close relation of the Canary.  It is found widely throughout almost all of Europe, although it is largely absent from Scandinavia and the British Isles, favouring more of a Mediterranean habitat.  In Spain it is fairly common resident found in a variety of habitats up to and including inner-city parks.  I saw a good number across the holiday, but how readily I could get views of them depended very much on where they were - urban birds being less shy than rural.  Prior to seeing them in Spain, I did look for this species in the UK as it is a rare breeding species and vagrant, but failed to locate them each time.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Serinus
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Verzellino

A resident

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP -  A few at Aci Castello.

SPAIN - Spanish - Verdecillo ("Greenish")

Common to locally abundant resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Common at various locations including El Retiro and Patones
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Fairly common throughout, particularly noted at El Pardo

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .