New details about the taxonomy of Northern Shikra Accipiter (badius) cenchroides (Severtsov, 1873) from Diyala –Northeastern Iraq

الملخص

The aim of study to provide a new recorded of Northern Shikra Accipiter (badius) cenchroides (Severtsov, 1873) and details of Shikra subspecies within the Iraq. Two juveniles were recorded and described carefully in the Diyala River in Buhriz district – southwest of Diyala. The first recorded of Shikra Accipiter badius in Iraq by (Salim et al, 2020) did not refer to a subspecies, and it seems ssp. sphenurus (Tihama Shikra, Arabian/African ssp.), Juveniles of various subspecies are more similar and thus difficult to separate, but this ssp. was showing longer central tail feathers which protrude from the tip of the tail as described in this article, while. This recoded shows that ssp. Cenchroides (Northern Shikra) that is paler overall, with fewer contrasting markings. Ultimately, our findings could potentially alter the Shikra\'s status as a rare winter visitor on the future checklist of birds in Iraq. Further research is needed to determine the presence of several subspecies in Iraq and the Middle East.