AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Wintering Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Time Activity Budgets in East Texas Bottomland Hardwood Forests

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2009
Authors:Speights, JR, Conway, WC
Journal:The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Volume:121
Issue:3
Date Published:2009
ISBN Number:15594491
Keywords:Picidae, Sphyrapicus, Sphyrapicus varius
Abstract:We developed time-activity budgets for 286 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus varius) from October 2005/2006 to March 2006/2007 in east Texas bottomland hardwood forests. Behaviors were similar between genders and study sites (P > 0.05), but varied (P = 0.008) between years. Sapsuckers spent more time foraging upon arrival in wintering areas and during morning throughout the study periods. Deviation from monthly average low temperature was an important (P = 0.038) covariate during the second study year, when sapsuckers increased time spent foraging during colder than average temperatures and increased time perching on days with warmer than average temperatures. Sapsuckers partitioned about half their time foraging (early in the day) and half their time perching (later in the day). Sapsuckers may have little physiological need for drastic behavioral adjustments to successfully meet nutritional demands during winter in areas with mild climates.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/20616946
Short Title:The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith