2021Joint Stamp Issue - Kyrgyzstan and Croatia - Protected Birds - Woodpeckers - Sheetlets

On December 31, 2021 the Ministry of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz Republic puts into circulation a series of Kyrgyz Express Post postage stamps: "Joint stamp issue between Kyrgyzstan and Croatia. Protected Birds: Woodpeckers".

Despite the geographical distance from each other, there have been established some friendly relations of mutual understanding and fruitful cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Croatia. This was confirmed during a bilateral meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan and Croatia, which took place in Brussels in December 2019.

One of the manifestations of cooperation between our countries was the decision to make a joint stamp issue, which will be dedicated to some protected birds of Kyrgyz and Croatian fauna - woodpeckers.

The new series of KEP postage stamps includes 2 miniatures depicting the following species: the Middle spotted woodpecker, found in Croatia and the White-winged woodpecker, found in Kyrgyzstan.

The Middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius) in Croatia is found in broad-leaved mixed forests, most often with oak dominance. The woodpecker has a distinctive red crown. If compared to other woodpecker species, the Middle spotted woodpecker hammers trees relatively rarely.

The White-winged woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucopterus) in Kyrgyzstan mainly inhabits wooded areas on flood plains and has a preference for broad-leaved trees. A characteristic feature of the White-winged woodpecker is the presence of large formless white patches on its scapula and wings, as reflected by the name of the bird.

All woodpeckers feed on various insects, as well as nuts and acorns. As woodpeckers consume a lot of tree pests, they are considered to be very useful birds, a kind of "forest doctors".

For this series, KEP also issues two postcards, which are used to realize two maximum cards.