NESTING ECOLOGY OF SYMPATRIC WOODPECKERS OF THE WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

摘要

Nesting phenology, nest and nest-site characters of eight species of woodpeckers that occur sympatrically in the Moist Deciduous Forests of the Western Ghats were studied. These woodpeckers ranged from 13-31 cm in length. A total of 63 nests were located during the two breeding seasons. December-May was the principal nesting season of the woodpeckers, though one species also nested in the monsoon season. From the data generated by this study, it appears that habitat characteristics are less importantin the selection of nest-sites, and species exhibited overlaps in most parameters studied. The few critical factors are the Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) of the nest tree and the diameter of the nest substrate (DNH), and to some extent the condition of the nest substrate and the height at which nests are located. Woodpecker nests were also located in Teak- Bombax-Eucalyptus plantations, adjacent to natural forest areas. Low densities and patchy distribution of woodpeckers in the study area could be the reasons why many species overlapped in their nestest-site characteristics.