Parus

Eck, Siegfried, 2006, The Palaearctic Titmouse Species (Aves: Paridae: Parus sensu lato) — A current survey *, Zootaxa 1325, pp. 7-54 : 33

3. Parus [l.] lugubris

The Sombre Tits between the Balkans and Iran exhibit remarkable differences, regarding both ecology and morphology. The Iranian forms are relatively short­tailed; hyrcanus is the smallest form. ♂♂ 65.5–73 mm, on average 70.4, in 10 ΨΨ 66–70 mm, on average 68.2. I still consider this form to be a representative of the Sombre Tits, which biologically has not yet been thoroughly compared with the other Iranian forms. — Cf. Leonowitsch et al. (1970); Loskot 1977, 1978, 1987; Eck 1980, 1988: 106–108.

P. lugubris lugubris TEMMINCK, 1820 [Dalmatia and Hungary]; P. lugubris splendens GENGLER, 1919, s. Hartert 1921: 2117 [Nevsha, Bulgaria]; P. lugubris lugens C.L. BREHM, 1855 [Attica]; P. lugubris anatoliae HARTERT, 1905 [Ahoory, Asia Minor , 5000 ft.]; P. lugubris dubius HELLMAYR, 1901 [Shiraz, Fars, SW Iran]; P. lugubris kirmanensis KOELZ, 1950 [Deh Bakri, western Bam/Kirman, S Iran]; P. lugubris hyrcanus (ZARUDNY & LOUDON, 1905) [Rustumabad, Ghilan; syn. talischensis STEPANJAN, 1974, Visesamin, Talish].

The population groups: P 30 splendens, lugubris , lugens, anatoliae; Balkans to Turkey.

— Fig. Quinn: Plate15a–e.

* Different in wing length and nuances of dorsal head and back coloration. Wing length of the ♂♂: 25 splendens 72–80 mm, on average 75.8 mm ± 2.16; 10 lugubris 72–77 mm, on average 74.9 mm ± 1.52; 7 lugens 70–74.5 mm, on average 72.5 mm ± 1.63; 15 anatoliae 69–75 mm, on average 71.9 mm ± 2.0.

P 31 dubius, kirmanensis; W Iran. — Figs. Eck 1980b: PlateII (dubius); Quinn: Plate15:

48f.

* Different in back and dorsal­head coloration as well as bill shape. — Wing length up to 76 mm. — In comparison to P 30 relatively short­tailed, WTI: 24 dubius 81.2 % ± 1.65 vs 47 splendens 85.5 % ± 1.57.

P 32 hyrcanus; S Caspia. — Figs. Eck 1980b: PlateII; Quinn: Plate15: 49. * Smaller than P 32, wing length up to 73 mm (Gurgan). For evaluating coloration birds in fresh plumage are always required. On underside as colourful (and not limited to the flanks!) as Parus cinctus sayanus! In spring nothing remains of this. Two kirmanensis in the Ann Arbor Museum, collected in February (!) still show traces of such coloration. Sexual dimorphism in the colour of the cap is present, as in other Sombre Tits. I was able to examine 20 specimens of hyrcanus (St. Petersburg, Tring, Chicago, New York). — Wing length of 7 ♂♂ 69–73 mm, x = 70.8 mm ± 1.41, of 10 ΨΨ 66–70 mm, x = 68.2 mm ± 1.6 (juveniles had 65, 65.5 and 73! mm). — TWI of n=17: 79.5 % ± 1.4 (cf. Eck 1980b).