3 17 Saman R. A. Lahony Bull. Iraq Nat. Hist. Mus. (2011) 11 (3): 17 -24 CAVE DWELLING ANIMALS IN IRAQ PART 2: SYSTEMATIC NOTES ON THE NUTHATCH OF THE FAMILY SITTIDAE (AVES- PASSERIFORMES) IN IRAQ WITH ADDING SOME IMPORTANT KNOWLEDGE TO THE NEST BUILDING OF SITTA TEPHRONOTA SHARPE, FROM BESAN VALE HAWRAMAN SLOPE. IRAQI KURDISTAN Saman R. Afrasiab Lahony Natural History Research Center and Museum University of Baghdad ABSTRACT This paper is a review of the genus Sitta in Iraq, Five species of this genus are recognized Sitta kurdistanica, S. neumayr, S. europaea, S.dresseri and S. tephronota. Geographical distribution and systematic nots were given for separation and identification, also some notes on nest building and nest sites of S. tephronota supporting by figures are presented. INTRODUCTION There is some confusion in previous systematic studies of Nuthatches in Iraq. This because of position of Iraqi land, it like a lands bridge between three large zoogeographical zones,i.e. Palearactic, Indian, and Ethiopian region,(Hawramany,2007). This create a great diversity of species and sub-species in this particular area. The previous authors are mostly depended on literature for their work, (Allous, 1960. Mahdi and George,1962., Lepage, 2004. Salim, etal. 2006.)They mentioned to three species of Nuthatch to be found in Iraq: Sitta europaea L.,1758., S. tefronota,Sharpe,1872., S. neumayer, Michaelles,1830. Ticehurst(1923) and Zarudny and Buturlin (1906) Described some variety of this family. Kinnear(1949) recorded two species of nuthatch in India and Bruun (1969), gave three species to be found in Europe. Wall creeper Tichodroma m. muraria (L.) is not cover by this study, since they put it in a separate Family (Tichodromidae). Allous(1960) and Mahdi and George(1962) neglected variation giving by other authors such as Vaurie (1959) who described some variety. Also the study include some information on nest building of Rock Nuthatch depending on field observations and on Berger,1961., in Besan-Tawera valley, Hawraman slope north east of Iraq. This paper is a part of larger project (Cave dwelling animals in Iraq). MATERIAL AND METHODS This study based on collection of the Natural history museum of Baghdad university, and on four specimens of Nuthatch collected by author from Besan-Tawera valley (600-1200 m.a.s). Figures were taken by photo camera (Canon) and Video camera. Literatures, were used too. 18 Cave Dwelling Animals in Iraq RESULT AND DISCUSSION The study of Mlikovsky (2007), on S. neumay complex classified some variety as a separate species. In our collection we faced some confusion and problem, if we follow mlikovesky we can solve some of these problems. Fig.1: Sitta tephronota from Besan –Tawera valley Hawraman step north east of Iraq. 19 Saman R. A. Lahony Table.1: Measurements of Nuthatch Sitta sp. Collected by museum staff and author randomly according to collection site, T. L. = Total length Table (1) showed the measurements of Sitta sp. Collected from different localities mapping in fig.(8). Color variation could be seen in fig.1,2,3, and 4. Sitta kurdistanica,Ticehurst.1923.Fig3,and Table 1. Sitta neumayer kurdistanica. Ticehurst: = This is a small Nuthatch does not reach more than 11cm. The bill (2-2.6cm.) short and weak, shorter than the other species of the family. This Nuthatch differs from S. neumayer in size and nesting in tree holes. It is distributed in all Kurdistan mountains, our specimens of Dihok regarded as a topotype for this species. This nuthatch was classified by Ticehurst 1923 as S. neumayer kurdistanica, but Mlikovsky, 2007. Refer it to separate species Sitta kurdistanica and she said it's one of the neumayer complex depending on type study. Sitta europaea. Linnaeus,1758.: Two specimens were studied from Gali Ali bag, north of Erbil, Its recognized by presence of white spots on tail. Sitta neumayer, Michahelles,1830. Its Known by lacking white spots on tail, and differs from S. kurdistanica in size and habitats. There are two specimens from Zakho and another captured by a citizen alive from Chwarta north of Sulaymanyah fig.(7). Tail Tarsus Wing Bill T.L. 5-6cm. 3cm. 9-10 cm. 3cm. 13.8-14cm. Besan- Tawera Valley 5.5-6 2.9-3 8.9-9 3 13.25 Zakhow 5 2.5 7.5 2.6 12 Dohok -Amadiah 5 2.2 8.5 3 11 Injanah- Hamrin mountain 4.9-5.5 3 9.5-9.2 3 13.5 Gali Ali Bag- Arbil 4.5 2-2.5 7.9-7.5 2-2.2 10.5 Dohok prov. 6 3 9 3 13.5 Chwarta – Sulaymanyah 20 Cave Dwelling Animals in Iraq Sitta dresseri, Zarudny & Buturlin, 1906.Fig.,3: This nuthatch in the size of S.kurdistanica,, but its existence is located in Hamraen mountain east of Iraq south of Kurdistan of Iraq, which's in the distribution range of S.dresseri in Shushtar Iranian side of Zagros Mountain, type locality. It has stronger bill than that of S. kurdistanica. Dorsal color light grey with faint brown wash posterior on the large feather of the wing and posterior half of the ventral side. Sitta tephronota, Sharpe,1872.Fig.1,3. Place of collection: Besan-Tawera valley,Hawraman step. Sulaymanyah. It is little larger than the other member of the family in Iraq Table (1), easily recognized by white color of first and last large feather of the tail, and presence of black spot on the wings cover. Flanks and underside of the tail with dark chestnut color. Nest building: In the case of S. tephronota the sexes pair for life and remain together throughout the year. Both sexes sharing in the nest building. About one month is required for repairing the destroyed nest. Through all the year they add to the nest. They build the nest mainly from mud strengthen it by pieces of dry grass,tree leaves and other materials. They build the nest attached to the rock of caves in mountain slopes and on the trees,fig.2, 4,5.The size of the round nearly black opening of the nest,6 cm. and 1.5 cm. thick, it is very good designer for hiding and mimic the surrounding rocks and trees, 1.5-2meter high from the ground, mostly the female stay at night inside the nest and the males near the opening. Female lays 5-6 White egg,20×15mm., differ than that of S. Europaea which given by Hanzak,1978, in lacking of spots on shell and the number of the eggs. They are suffering from mans by capturing young and adult also destroying the nest.In a valley 2km. 10 nest was destroyed by man Fig.6 plate1. Plate: 1 Figure (2) Figure (3) 21 Saman R. A. Lahony Figure (4) Figure (5) Figure (6) Figure (7) Plate 1: Fig.2: Nest of Sitta tephronota from Besan-Tawera valley Hawraman step, Fig.3: From right to left.S. kurdistanica, From dihok, S. neumayer,From Zakhow,S. europaea From Gali Alibag north Irbil, S. dresseri.From Inganah Hamrain mountain. Fig.4: Nest Attached to tree. Fig.5: Nest attached to rock of the cave. Fig.6: Destroid nest. Fig.7: Capturd S.Neumayer. From chwarta North of Sulaymanyah. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks to Mr. Osama Mohammad and Haider Salman, from Natural history museum, for helping in typing and scanning the figures and to Sabah Rafaat from Anab village for helping me in field and collection. LITERATURE CITED Allous, B. E. 1961, Birds of Iraq.Vol.1. Arrabita press Baghdad Iraq. Berger, A. J. 1961. Bird Study. Dover Publication, INC, New York. Bruun B., 1969. Britsh & European Birds. Paul Hamlyn Publishing Group, London. 22 Cave Dwelling Animals in Iraq Hanzak, J. 1978. Birds Egg and Nests. The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited. printed in Czechoslovakia. Hawramany, S. R. Afrasiab, 2007,. Ecology, Behavior, Reproduction and Classification of Alectoris chukar, in Iraq. Thesis submitted to college of science. University of Baghdad Iraq. Kinnear, N. B. 1949. Popular Handbook of Indian Birds. Fourth Edition Gurney and Jackson Pub. London. Lepage, D., 2004. Avibase - the world database. Mahdi, N. and Georg, P. V. 1969. Sistematic list of Iraqi vertebrates. Iraq Nat. Hist. Mus. Pub. 26. Baghdad - Iraq. Mlikovsky, J. 2007. Type specimens and type localities of Rock Nuthatches of Sitta neumayer species complex (Aves-Sittidae). Journal of the National Museum (Prague). Vol.176(6): 91-115. Czech Republic. Salim, M. A., R. Porter and C. Christensen C. S. 2006. Field-guide to the birds of Iraq,. Institution of Nature of Iraq. United Nation programme for wild birds protection. Ticehurst, C. B. 1923. Description of new races of Iraq and Indian birds - Bolletien of the british Ornithologists Club, 44: 28-29. Vauri, C. 1959. The birds of pale arctic fauna: Witherby, London. Zarudnyi, N. A. and S. A. Buturlin, 1906. Sitta dresseri, spec. nov. Ornithologische Monatsberichte. 14-132. 23 Saman R. A. Lahony 24 Cave Dwelling Animals in Iraq Bull. Iraq Nat. Hist. Mus. (2011) 11 (3): 17-24 في العراق مع إضافة معلومات Sittidaeمالحظات تصنيفية لطائر كاسر الجوز من عائلة ي سان على وادي بفي S. tephronotaمهمة عن تعشيش كاسر الجوز الصخري الكبير حافة جبل هورامان في كردستان العراق سامان روستم افراسياب لهوني جامعة بغداد –مركز بحوث و متحف التاريخ الطبيعي الخالصة تتضمن هذه الدراسة مراجعة تصنيف فصيلة كاسر اجلوز يف العراق. مت التعرف على مخس و S. europaea و S. neumayr و Sitta kurdistanicaأنواع تابعة هلذه الفصيلة وهي S. dresseri و S. tephronota توزيع اجلغرايف و مواصفات تصنيفية أعطيت من اجل تشخيص . S.tefronotaو التفرقة. باإلضافة إىل بعض املعلومات عن العش و مكا ا لنوع