Łukasz Kajtoch, Bartłomiej Kusal, Antonii Bakai, Zuzanna Pochłopień
Ornis Polonica 2025, 66: 186–195
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2025.3.2
Abstract: The Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus is a rare species in Poland, and its population is declining. Presumably the largest population of the Małopolska province (Southern Poland) was inventoried on the Proszowice Plateau in the Szreniawa Valley and the Vistula Valley in 2023–2025. In total, 22 territories were recorded, including mixed pairs with the Great Spotted Woodpecker (2) or with hybrids (3). Syrian Woodpeckers occupied old parks and orchards, and were also found in forests on the slopes of valleys and in riparian woodlands. The occurrence of over 2% of species’ national population in this area authorizes the proposal of a new nationally important bird area for this species, the protection of which is necessary for the preservation of the species in the Małopolska province.
Keywords: hybridization, important bird areas, Lesser Poland, Vistula and Szreniawa valleys
