Notes on the habits of some Argentine and Peruvian woodpeckers (Aves, Picidae). American Museum novitates ; no. 2413
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Date
1970
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New York, N.Y. : American Museum of Natural History
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Abstract
"Some habits of 18 species of Argentine and Peruvian woodpeckers are reported. Particularly noteworthy is the communal nesting of Melanerpes cruentatus, at least 11 individuals of which fed young at three nest sites, with some adults feeding at all three sites. Factors, such as foraging mode and food utilized, are considered with respect to the sympatric occurence of woodpeckers (including five additional species the habits of which are not reported here) in parts of those two countries. From one-quarter to one-half the species of woodpeckers at each locality visited are primarily ant-foragers. Arboreal ant-foraging species are virtually restricted to the tropics and subtropics, accounting in part for the reduction in number of woodpeckers in temperate South America. The species fall into six, rather well-defined categories of size. Primarily ant-foraging species fall without exception into the two central (small, medium) categories of size. Three species occurring in Patagonian forests are separated by great size gaps. Similarly sized species either differ considerably in habits, or are allopatric in their distribution. The latter include a number of groups of closely related species (forming superspecies)"--P. 35-36.
Description
37 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 36-37).
Includes bibliographical references (p. 36-37).
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