Northern subspecies of the Japanese pygmy woodpecker Yungipicus kizuki (Temminck, 1836)

We examined skins kept in ornithological collections of Zoological Museum of Moscow State University (ZMMU), Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences (ZISP), Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (FSCB), Institute of Marine Geology & Geophysics of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (IMGG), Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (ISEA) and Zoological museum of National Museum of Natural History of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences (ZMUAS). In total 149 specimens from northern parts of breeding range were processed (Tabl. 1). We measured 8 characteristics of each skin: wing length (measured with a ruler at maximum straightening of the wing on the flat surface); tail length (measured with a ruler from the base of the central pair of tail feathers to their vertices). Other measurements were made using a calliper. Wing tip; tarsus length; bill length (measured from above to the base of rhamphotheca); bill length from nostril (measured from the posterior edge of nostrils); maximum bill height, bill width (measured from the base of rhamphotheca to the mouth corners). We also present the results of measurements of 4 indicators (wing span, maximum body length, head length, weight) obtained from birds before their preparation. For correct coloration comparison and proper designation of tinges we referred to Naturalist's Color Guide (Smithe 1975). Numbers of tinges are cited in brackets after corresponding tinge names. Given the fact that coloration of the plumage is becoming browner with the time of storage, for the current analysis, we used only specimens collected during the last 50 years. The geographical variability of the Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers can be distinguished on high-quality serial material. The main signs are noticeable in the color of the plumage. There are differences in overall dimensions, although the limits of variability overlap (Fig. 1, 2). We recognize the reality of the four Northern geographic races of the Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker. The distribution of these subspecies and neighboring southern forms is shown on the map (Fig. 3). Yungipicus kizuki permutatus (Meise, 1934) Dryobates kizuki permutatus Meise, 1934, Abhandl. Berl. Mus. Dresden, 18, N 2, c. 53, Sidemi, southern Primorye. A large and dark-colored race. The nape and front of the back are dark, Vandyke Brown tint (C. 221). The back and wings are blackish, darker than in other subspecies (Fig. 4A). The white bars on the back are more contrasting. Light spots on the wing are smaller than in other races (Fig. 5). The ear coverts and dark feathers on the sides of the chest have Hair Brown tint (C. 119A), darker than in other subspecies. The dark stripes on the sides of the lower side of the body are broader and clearer (Fig. 4Б). In fresh plumage, the breast and abdomen are with a yellowish tint. The sizes are larger than that of island races (Table 2, 3; Fig. 2). Range: Northeast China, North Korea, and the South of Primorsky Krai. Along the coast of the Japanese Sea it is distributed to the North at least as far as the Terney village. Yungipicus kizuki seebohmi (Hargitt, 1884) Iyngipicus seebohmi Hargitt, 1884, Ibis, p. 100, Hokkaido. Lighter and smaller than permutatus . The nape and front of the back are lighter and brighter than those of permutatus , Vandyke Brown tint (P. 121). The back and wings are more brownish, less black (Fig. 4A). The width of the light bars on the back and the spots on the wings as in permutatus , but the pattern is less contrasting. The ear coverts and dark feathers on the sides of the chest have Dark Drab tint (C. 119Б). The dark stripes on the flanks of the underside of the body are smaller and more indistinct than in permutatus . The dark pattern on the extreme tail feathers is paler than that of permutatus . In fresh plumage, the chest and abdomen with a yellowish tint (Fig. 4Б). From the race Yu. k. nippon Kuroda, 1922, with Honshu, seebohmi is distinguished by a large development of white bars on the back, spots on the wings, much less width of dark spots on the sides of the body and under tail coverts, as well as a smaller 0width of dark spots on the extreme tail feathers. In size, seebohmi is smaller than permutatus (Fig. 2; Table 2.3), while larger than nippon . Range: Hokkaido, Kunashir, Shikotan Is. (Fig. 3). There are no differences between samples from Hokkaido, Kunashir and Shikotan. The form “kurilensis” is a synonym of Yu. k. seebohmi . Yungipicus kizuki ijimae (Taka-Tsukasa, 1922) Iyngipicus kizuki ijimae Taka-Tsukasa, 1922, Dôbutsu Zasshi, 34, p. 292, Sakhalin. Similar in size and color to seebohmi , but slightly lighter; much lighter than permutatus . The dark background of the plumage of the back and wings is paler (Fig. 6A).