AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

A Christmas Count Analysis of Woodpecker Abundance in the United States

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1975
Authors:Bock, CE, Lepthien, LW
Journal:The Wilson Bulletin
Volume:87
Issue:3
Date Published:1975
ISBN Number:00435643
Keywords:Asyndesmus, Ceophoeus, Ceophoeus pileatus, Dendrocopos, Dryobates pubescens, Dryocopus, Dryocopus pileatus, Hylatomus, Hylatomus pileatus, Melanerpes, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Melanerpes formicivorus, Picidae, Picoides, Picoides pubescens, Sphyrapicus, Sphyrapicus varius, United States
Abstract:Analysis of Christmas count data for 27 inland regions in the U.S. revealed major patterns of woodpecker abundance. Data for 6 woodpecker taxonomic groups were subjected to ordination analysis. In general, abundance patterns correlated well with information on the foraging ecology of the species and genera. Dendrocopos (plus Picoides) showed a strong northeastern abundance pattern due to the high densities of Hairy and Downy woodpeckers in that region. The Common Flicker is very abundant at lower latitudes and in relatively open habitats. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was concentrated in the Mississippi Valley and the Southeast. Sphyrapicus varius varius appeared much more abundant than the western subspecies. The Pileated Woodpecker was most abundant in forests of the Midwest and Southeast, and relatively rare in the West. The Acorn, Lewis', and Red-headed woodpeckers wintered where mast crops are available. Acorn Woodpeckers were much more common in California than in the Southwest; Red-headed Woodpeckers were abundant in the Midwest, where oaks and corn are available. Melanerpes and Asyndesmus forage extensively by flycatching, and are most abundant in open habitats, even in winter.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/4160650
Short Title:The Wilson Bulletin
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