TURKEY - a report from a birdwatching trip to Central ... - Netfugl.dk

Probably in lower altitudes outside breeding season, e.g. 100 in flock near Mut, April 2007 (Simon
Berg Pedersen per e-mail).
277. Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Bogfinke
2005: 13.5 6 Pozanti - 13,5 3 Camardi - 14.5 1 Kalki Dag - 16.5 5 Sivri Kaya - 16.5 1 Izikdere -
17.5 3 Izikdere - 17.5 1 Depeparazi - 17.5 1 Artvin.
2006: 15.5 9 Imamli-Mut. Common Pontic Mountains, most 18-20.5 daily max. 15 Izikdere – 19.5
7 Sivri Kaya – 19.5 12 Kalkandere – 20.5 8 Cam Gecedi. More scattered to the south: 23.5 3
Tatvan-Bitlis.
2007: 15.5 7 Pozanti-Demirkazik – 15.5 1 Cucurbak – 18.5 5 Sivri Kaya – 18.5 4 Ikizdere – 18.5 1
Ikizdere-Rize- 19.5 1 Rize – 19.5 11 Hopa – 19.5 30 Cam Gecedi.
The birds from Sivri Kaya and eastwards looked slight different from coelebs in males having a
bluer tinge to hood (which appeared somewhat more restricted than in coelebs) and breast pinkier
with reddish being confined to breast, in some leaving contrasting pale, sometimes greyish-white
belly. The mantle in at least one male showed few green feathers. These are treated as ssp. solomkoi
or caucasica (Cramp & Perrins 1994).
278. Linnet Cardielis cannabina bella Tornirisk
Rather common in open landscale, especially in hilly areas.
2005: Most 18.5 25 Ishak Pasa - 19.5 20 Van Hills - 22.5 10 Isikli - 22.5 10 Durnalik.
2006: Most 16.5 4 Demirkazik – 21.5 4 Halikisla – 21-22.5 daily max. 10 Ishak Pasa
2007: Most 15.5 4 Demirkazik – 20.5 5 Halikisla – 21.5 5 Dogubayazit-Tendürek Gecedi – 21.5 4
Sogoksu.
The ssp. bella is similar to cannabina, In male, head paler and mantle greyish-brown (hazel),
leaving a paler overall impression, which enforced the extensive red in breast and forehead; The
ssp. is described as showing paler and less extensive red than cannabina (Cramp & Perrins 1994),
but this not supported in series of photoes of birds from Ishak Pasa, where the red was extensive,
only a tinge paler and more orange-toned than the carmine-red of cannabina, so probably some
variation in this ssp.
279. (Asian) Twite Carduelis flavirostris brevirostris (Asiatisk) Bjergirisk
2005: 18.5 1 Ishak Pasa - 18.5 8 Somkaya.
2006: 18.5 4 Ovitdagi Gecedi – 19.5 10 Ovitdagi Gecedi – 21.5 4 Halikisla – 22.5 10 Tendürük
Gecedi – 22.5 6 Gulicar.
2007: 18.5 4 Ovitdagi Gecedi -20.5 1 Sogoksu – 21.5 1 Tendürek Gecedi.
The taxon brevirostris is distinctly different from the flavirostris-group (N and NW Europe). This,
together with the isolation between the nominate and the Asian population indicates that they may
be candidates for treatment as different species: Northern Twite C. flavirostris and Asian Twite C.
brevirostris. However, no main research have yet been done.
Brevirostris is similar shaped to flavoristris, but less fluffy. The upperparts had broader dark
streaking, the head-pattern was stronger and "more depressive" and the breast deeper buffish with
conspicious broad dark streaks, in males often enough to create a striking clear contract to the white
underparts. The rump is deeper rosy (sometimes noted as whitish; Cramp & Simmons 1994) and the
greater coverts bar stronger, creating a single white wing bar, which is often conspicious and
surprising broad in flight (compare Mongolian Trumpeter Finch!). Voices differs slightly.
Breeds in mountain slopes in Eastern half of Turkey, often with grassy and herbal vegetation on
stony background, or in harsher mountain areas with hardly any vegetation. Distrubuted patchily in
mountain areas of Central and Eastern Turkey