AGE OF FIRST BREEDING IN GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKERS (MELANERPES AURIFRONS)

摘要

Few published records exist on the age of first breeding attempts for members of the woodpecker genus Melanerpes. This information is lacking for the Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons). This report presents observations of four 1-yr-old Golden-fronted Woodpeckers breeding in west-central Texas during 1996. Observations were made in San Angelo State Park, Tom Green County, Texas. All four individuals (two males, Ml and M2, and two females, F1 and F2) were captured with mist nets and color-banded as hatch year birds during the summer of 1995. Individuals were captured after fledging, but prior to their post-juvenile molt, allowing for age determination by plumage.