More than a collection: the scientific value of woodpecker specimens in the Šariš museum in Bardejov (Slovakia)

Abstract We present a summary of woodpecker (Piciformes, Picidae) specimens deposited in the collection of the Šariš Museum in Bardejov (SMB), Slovakia. This work builds on previous studies highlighting the importance of the SMB collections, both regionally and globally. In total, data on 303 individuals belonging to 10 species from 58 localities were evaluated. The specimens were collected between 1952 and 1977. The significance of this work also lies in the cataloguing process, which provides valuable data on regional museum collections – data that can be important not only at a local level but also in the context of global biodiversity research. In addition, the SMB exhibition includes 8 specimens from 5 exotic Piciformes species – Dryocopus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1766), Melanerpes flavifrons (Vieillot, 1818), M. superciliaris (Temminck, 1827), Sphyrapicus varius (Linnaeus, 1766), and Xiphidiopicus percussus (Temminck, 1826) – originating from Argentina and Cuba.