HANDBOOK OF WESTERN PALEARCTIC BIRDS NUTHATCHES

(WESTERN) ROCK NUTHATCH Sitta neumayer Michahelles, 1830

Fr. – Sittelle de Neumayer; Ger. – Felsenkleiber where there are steep cliffs and exposed rock Sp. – Trepador rupestre occidental faces, but will now and then also feed among Swe. – Klippnötväcka boulders and on smaller rocks in maquis or open There are three species of nuthatches in Europe woodland, especially in winter. Like all southern of which this is the largest. The Rock Nuthatch nuthatches it is sedentary. It builds a closed nest is restricted to the Balkans in SE Europe, but its of mud and constructs an entrance tunnel. The range continues through Turkey, the Levant, Tran- nest is placed directly on a cliff-face, often in a scaucasia and widely across Iran. It lives only crevice with overhanging rock as shelter.

S. n. neumayer, presumed ad, Greece, Apr: in ‘orange-bellied’ Western Rock the warmer rear half of body contrasts with whiter throat and chest, unlike in Eurasian Nuthatch. Also unlike that species, and diagnostically, undertail-coverts lack white streaks or spots. Probably ad given evenly fresh wing-feathers (with pure S. n. syriaca, Turkey, Jul: in classic pose in rocky habitat. It is usually impossible to sex a lone bird, lead-grey edges), including primary-coverts. (R. Pop) S. n. neumayer, 1stS, presumed a, Greece, Mar: differs from Eurasian Nuthatch by rather long stout bill, long-legged appearance, and more uniform tail without black and white markings. Some and ageing without handling is often unwise, too. (A. Halley) have more extensive orange-tinged bellies, but unlike Eurasian Nuthatch breast whiter than belly, VOCALISATIONS Vocal and loud-voiced. Most sounds and undertail-coverts plainer. Much of visible wing is juv; a 1stY with a relatively broad and intense are shrill trills or fast series of repeated metallic or whis- black eye-stripe suggests a a. (P. Petrou) tling notes, and can recall both Eurasian Nuthatch and Marsh Tit songs. Song is variable, often single or disyllabic notes BIOMETRICS (neumayer) L 14.5–16 cm; W a 77– hence many birds impossible to assign to a particular race. (n 27, m 22.9). Data from live birds at Mt Hermon, Israel repeated in long series, which may accelerate and increase 86 mm (n 16, m 81.9), o 73.5–84.5 mm (n 14, m 80.7); All populations resident. (J. Langer & A. Rochman in litt. 1990, A. B. Dov & Y. Kiat in loudness, but also slow down and ‘die’ at the end. Several T a 47–51 mm (n 16, m 48.8), o 44–51 mm (n 14, S. n. neumayer Michahelles, 1830 (Balkans in SE in litt. 2013): W 76–85 mm (n 38, m 80.5); T 43–51 mm rather different series are alternated by the same a. If the m 47.6); T/W m 59.1; B 20.5–26.7 mm (n 36, m 23.8); Europe). Described above. Large, size almost as Eastern (n 25, m 47.1); B 19.0–25.0 mm (n 31, m 23.1); Ts 22.8– singer is not close there can be a faint resemblance with BD 4.7–5.6 mm (n 35, m 5.1); Ts 21.3–24.5 mm (n 36, Rock Nuthatch, but bill proportionately somewhat smaller. 25.0 mm (n 13, m 23.7). (Syn. zarudnyi.) a distantly-singing Woodlark. – Call comprises either short, m 23.5). Wing form­ula: p1 > pc 11.5–16 mm, < p2 Rather marked contrast between rusty-buff lower underparts ○ S. n. rupicola Blanford, 1873 (E Turkey from c. 40°E, IDENTIFICATION Slightly larger than Eurasian Nuthatch, grade into light rufous-buff belly and vent (but without dark sharp whistles when feeding and in contact, or short trills 21–27 mm; p2 < wt 7.5–14 mm, =8/9 or 9 (53%), =9/10 and dusky-white upper half. Medium grey upperparts. Transcaucasia, NE Iraq, N Iran south to c. 34°S). Somewhat but difference small enough to often pass unnoticed. There rufous on lower flanks and vent like a Eurasian Nuthatch). recalling the sound of the song. When alarmed or agitated or 10 (38%) or <10 or ≥8 (9%); p3 < wt 0–2 mm; pp4–6 S. n. syriaca Temminck, 1835 (Turkey except east; smaller than—still very similar to—neumayer, differing are usually few familiar birds nearby to compare with, and the Tail-feathers lack any white marks. Head and bill proportion- gives harsh, short notes, often repeated in series, cheeh- longest; p7 < wt 1.5–4 mm; p8 < wt 3.5–8 mm; p10 < wt Levant). Has upperparts paler grey than in neumayer. Tends mainly in paler rusty-buff lower underparts, creating less species is often seen at some distance on rock faces making ately larger than in Eurasian Nuthatch, and Rock Nuthatch cheeh-cheeh, doubtfully separable from similar call of 10–12.5 mm; s1 < wt 9.5–14.5 mm. Emarg. pp3–6, faintly to have broader black eye-stripe at rear in tephronota contrast with whitish breast. Upperparts slightly darker grey any detailed size evaluation difficult due to unfamiliarity to often differs in taking a more upright stance when perched on Eastern Rock Nuthatch. also on p7 in some. fashion. L 14–15 cm; W a 75–82 mm (n 12, m 78.6), compared to syriaca, clearly darker than tschitscherini, and most observers with the habitat and distance. Compared to a rock or the ground. As in most nuthatches, there is a long SIMILAR SPECIES For separation from Eurasian Nuthatch GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION & RANGE Limited vari- o 74–80 mm (n 15, m 77.2); T a 41–48 mm (n 12, m 45.5), black eye-stripe behind eye better marked, not as broken Eurasian Nuthatch it is slightly paler and plainer with subtly black mask running from base of bill through eye to sides of see Identification and under Eurasian Nuthatch, Similar ation, involving slight clinal changes in size and paleness. o 42–48 mm (n 15, m 44.8); B 20.5–24.3 mm (n 28, and indistinct as tschitscherini. L 13.5–15 cm; W a 76– paler grey upperparts and a white throat and breast, which nape. Legs strong, slightly longer than in Eurasian Nuthatch. species. Whether the bird perches on a rock or in a tree Smooth intergradation between races in areas of contact, m 22.7); BD 4.5–5.6 mm (n 28, m 4.9); Ts 21.5–24.0 mm 85 mm (n 12, m 80.0), o 74–82 mm (n 7, m 77.9); T a provides no fool-proof separation, so best to check size, proportions, stance, plumage colours and vocalisation. – Eastern Rock Nuthatch occurs in the same habitat and over- laps with Western Rock Nuthatch over a large area. Luckily, they differ most in the overlap area but are extremely similar elsewhere. In the overlap area, the very prominent black mask of Eastern Rock widens behind the eye (rather than narrowing slightly behind eye as in Western Rock). The head and the bill are also somewhat larger and heavier in Eastern Rock, and these differences can often be perceived. The song and calls are generally lower-pitched, louder and somewhat more varied in Eastern Rock than in Western Rock Nuthatch. AGEING & SEXING Ages usually alike after post-juv moult, but sometimes a subtle difference discernible if handled. Sexes alike in plumage; size differ only slightly. – Moults. Complete post-nuptial moult in summer, mid Jun–Sep (Nov). Partial post-juv moult in late summer or early autumn gener- ally does not involve flight-feathers or primary-coverts, but may involve r1, tertials and some inner greater coverts. No or only a limited pre-nuptial moult (restricted to body-feathers). – autumn F.gr. Flight-feathers neat and fresh, rather dark grey with some gloss. Upperparts including greater coverts uniformly grey. Eye-stripe black and prominent. Juv Similar to f.gr., but has slightly duller grey or grey-brown flight- feathers, which may have slightly abraded tips earlier than in ad. Some early-hatched young can moult some outer prima- ries into 1stW and then show moult contrast in mid-wing. S. n. neumayer, presumed ad, Greece, Apr: usually appears somewhat larger and chunkier than Eurasian Nuthatch, and inhabits When fresh, often shows subtle pale feather-tips to grey of broken rocky terrain unlike that species. Underparts often whiter (as here) than ‘cinnamon-bellied’ races of Eurasian Nuthatch with S. n. syriaca, a (left) & o, Israel, May: in Israel many pairs when seen together can show sexual dimorphism, with a often having a considerably broader black eye-stripe, which is also intensely black; which it co-exists. Ageing nuthatches without handling is usually unsafe, but in this case overall fresh feathers in Apr (and broadly upperparts, and greater coverts finely tipped buff. Eye-stripe the o has a much narrower eye-stripe that is less jet-black. Not all pairs show such clear differences. Both are apparently 1stS due to strong wear to remiges in May, but it seems that the o is more grey-fringed primary-coverts) suggest an ad. (L. van Loo) less well marked. strongly bleached and worn. (A. Ben Dov)

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