Nesting Habits of the Woodpeckers and the Vultures in Mississippi

Abstract

OBSERVATIONS on the nesting and laying of the Woodpeckers (Picidae) and the Vultures (Cathartidoe) have shown several very interesting phenomena. The following will be an effort to bring out the rather peculiar and often unexpected actions on the part of these birds without any attempt to go into detail or record the many familiar nesting habits that are well known to all ornithologists. The notes are taken entirely from my data that were made while collecting and observing in the field in the east central and southwest portions of Mississippi. Ceophlceus pileatus. PILEATED WOODPECKER.-This bird has become rare in many parts of Mississippi but is still rather common in certain portions. During three seasons seventeen nests were watched in Adams County. In the vicinity where observations were made every small woods had its pair of these large woodpeckers. The individuals of this species seemed to occupy very small feeding areas. Of the seven nests that were found in 1902 five pairs of the birds were located in their respective woods during the previous December and January. Whenever a pair was once seen feeding in a wood during the winter the same pair could always be found very close to that place. At the beginning of the nesting season they would invariably make their burrow in some dead but sound tree near the edge of the brake. From continued observation it appeared certain that whenever a pair were found in a small wood during the winter they were sure to nest there the following spring. The burrow is very large and requires in most cases about one month for construction, being commenced in this locality about the latter part of February. But it was found very difficult to note the exact length of tiine consumed in burrowing, as the birds try so many parts of the same tree before striking one to suit their taste. The nest tree and other dead trees close at hand were often scarred from top to bottom. In two cases they began a nest, then seemed to start one in another place, and then returned