Cavity use throughout the annual cycle of a migratory woodpecker revealed by geolocators

Abstract

The importance of cavities as roost sites in migratory species is often unknown because it is challenging to monitor cavity use during the non‐breeding period. We documented cavity use throughout the annual cycle of a woodpecker using light‐level geolocators. Northern Flickers Colaptes auratus spent 63–90% of nights roosting in a cavity throughout the year, including during migration. The high frequency of year‐round cavity use by Flickers suggests that cavities provide benefits beyond nest‐sites. Our work highlights the potential use of geolocators to examine cavity use.