Evidence of red-cockaded woodpecker nestling displacement by southern flying squirrels.

摘要

Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are unique among woodpeckers in that they excavate their roost and nest cavities entirely within living pines. Studies show that there is a propensity for squirrels to use unenlarged cavities, none have shown evidence of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers being killed by southern flying squirrels. However, we report an instance of two nestlings found dead at the base of the nest tree and 3 flying squirrels inside the nest cavity.