AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Nest-Site Characteristics of White-Headed Woodpeckers

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1989
Authors:Milne, KA, Hejl, SJ
Journal:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume:53
Issue:1
Date Published:1989
ISBN Number:0022541X
Keywords:Picidae, Picoides, Picoides albolarvatus
Abstract:We described nest tree and site characteristics of 53 nests of the northern race of the white-headed woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus albolarvatus) from the central and southern Sierra Nevada, California. We located nests in a variety of habitats and in most tree species, although 89% were in pines (Pinus spp.) and firs (Abies spp.). Nests were located near the ground (x̄ = 3.0 m above ground level). The mean diameter breast height (dbh) of nest trees on 2 mapping grids, where some of our nests were located, did not differ (P > 0.80, P > 0.20) from random samples of snags on the corresponding grids. Most snags used for nest cavities were in a moderate state of decay. Existing snag-management policies of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in California will probably provide sufficient snags of the right diameter classes for white-headed woodpeckers, provided interactions with other cavity nesters does not limit their use of nest sites.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3801305
Short Title:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Taxonomic name: 
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