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- Title
Anvil Use by the Red-cockaded Woodpecker.
- Authors
Bondo, Kristin J.; Gilson, Lauren N.; Bowman, Reed
- Abstract
We observed Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) wedging longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) seeds into crevices in tree bark in Polk County, Florida from October to December 2004. Five individuals, four uniquely color-banded and one unidentified individual, wedged ∼14 seeds. Initially, we thought the birds were caching the seeds. Additional observations indicated the seeds were being wedged under the ends of the flaking bark of longleaf pines so seeds could be held firm and opened for consumption. Anvil use, where items are wedged for subsequent manipulation, is known to occur in several avian taxa, but most notably in Piciformes, Corvidae. Passerida, and Sittidae. At least 16 woodpeckers worldwide have been reported using anvils. This is the first report of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers using longleaf pine bark as an anvil to facilitate extracting the seed.
- Subjects
POLK County (Fla.); FLORIDA; RED-cockaded woodpecker; LONGLEAF pine; TREE cavities; BIRDSEED
- Publication
Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 2008, Vol 120, Issue 1, p217
- ISSN
1559-4491
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1676/07-017.1