Data analysis on extinct and living Picidae in Sicily and Calabria (Southern Italy).

Abstract

Some species of animals related to forest habitats have disappeared or greatly decreased in the first half of the last century. However, during the second half of the last century the forest areas have increased and many forests have been protected. This produced conditions for a re-colonization or reintroduction of extinct forest animal species. The present study is a complete overview of records of extinct and still living Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius, European green Woodpecker Picus viridis, Middle spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius and Lesser spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor in Sicily and Calabria (Southern Italy). This study was carried out to show that these woodpeckers, or at least some of them, may have existed in Sicily and are possible candidate for reintroduction projects in the island. This explains the reasons of a historical and contemporary survey on the presence of the above mentioned species in Calabria, that could be the place where these birds could be recovered for possible reintroduction projects in Sicily.