Title: Influence of nest-site competition between European starlings and woodpeckers
Abstract: -I studied the nesting behavior of 40 pairs of Red-bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus), 42 pairs of Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus), and 23 pairs of Redheaded Woodpeckers (M. erythrocephalus) during three breeding seasons, 1990-1992, in east-central Ohio. European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and Red-bellied Woodpeckers initiated nesting at the same time in early April, whereas flickers began nest excavation in late April and Red-headed Woodpeckers in early May. Red-bellied Woodpeckers incurred the brunt of starling competition for freshly excavated nest cavities and lost 39% of their cavities to starlings. Flickers and Red-headed Woodpeckers were significantly more aggressive than Red-bellied Woodpeckers when defending their nest cavities. Fourteen percent of flicker cavities and 15% of Red-headed Woodpecker cavities were usurped by starlings. Numbers of starling interactions with both Red-bellied and Red-headed woodpeckers decreased significantly (P < 0.05) over the breeding season. Woodpecker pairs unable to avoid starling competition may not have suffered reductions in fecundity since at least some of these pairs were able to renest successfully later in the season. Received 19 July 1993, accepted 21 Sept. 1993. The availability of suitable nest cavities and sites for nest cavities (i.e., dead limbs and snags) limits the reproductive success of hole-nesting birds (Cline et al. 1980, Mannan et al. 1980, Stauffer and Best 1982, Nilsson 1984, Raphael and White 1984, Cody 1985, Li and Martin 1991). The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), an introduced secondary cavitynesting species, is known to compete with a variety of native North American primary and secondary cavity nesters for nest sites (Howell 1943, Kilham 1958, Polder 1963, Zeleny 1969, Reller 1972, Jackson 1976, Short 1979, Ingold and Ingold 1984, Weitzel 1988). However, surprisingly few studies have been conducted in order to determine whether woodpeckers or other cavity nesters actually suffer reductions in fecundity as a result of starling harassment (see van Balen et al. 1982, Nilsson 1984). Ingold (1989a) found that Red-bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) suffered significant reductions in their reproductive success when competing with starlings, but Red-headed Woodpeckers (M. erythrocephalus) did not. Kerpez and Smith (1990) found that significantly fewer Gila Woodpeckers (M. uropygialis) nested in areas of starling overlap vs areas where starlings were absent; however, they were unable to detect a similar trend in Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus). Troetschler (1976) concluded that Acorn Woodpeckers (M. formicivorus) nesting in the presence of starlings were not adversely affected since they were able ' Dept. of Biology, Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio 43762.
Publication Year: 1994
Publication Date: 1994-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 95
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