Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Linnaeus       Field Guide IDs: NG-282; G-200; PE-192; PW-pl 40; AE-pl 339; AW-pl 364; AM(II)-236 Nest Location Nest Type Eggs & Mating System Dev. & Parental Care Primary & 2ndary Diet.. Foraging Strategy MF I: 12 DAYS ALTRICIAL 3 feet - 50 feet ? 4-5 (3-6) MONOG F: 20-25 DAYS MF BREEDING: Decid and mixed decid-conif woodland, riparian woodland, parks, orchards. 1 brood in n, 2? in s. DISPLAYS: "Dancing," drumming, bill waving, crest raising used in territorial displays and with duetting in courtship. Stilted, floating flight occurs in both aggression and courtship. NEST: New hole yearly, entrance often camouflaged by surrounding fungus/lichen/moss. Lined with chips. Excavated in 13-20 days (avg 16). Female usu selects site. EGGS: White. 0.8" (19 mm). DIET: Insects (75 to 85%); fruit, seeds, sap from sapsucker holes. CONSERVATION: Resident. Occ uses birdhouse for roost but not for nest. NOTES: Pair initially hold large territory which shrinks after nest site selected and excavated. Male reportedly performs most of brooding. Fledglings dependent for up to 3 weeks. Sexes forage separately: males prefer small branches, upper canopy and branches <60o from horizontal. Other hole-nesting species may invade roosting holes or nests. Each bird excavates winter roost. STANFORD. NOTES: Fairly common resident, breeding in a number of areas on campus. ESSAYS: Island Biogeography; Bird Guilds; How Do We Find Out About Bird Biology?; Feeding Birds; Nonvocal Sounds; Mixed-Species Flocking; Territoriality REFERENCES: Killiam, 1983; Lawrence, 1967; Short, 1982.