Gene Hunn wrote:

"Burt et al.

I had heard that Lewis's Woodpeckers don't excavate their nests but are
thus dependent on cavities excavated by other woodpeckers and hence
peculiarly susceptible to nest expropriation by starlings. Is this true?"

I don't think so. I once watched one excavating a hole in a dead oak
branch, and the three books I consulted--The Birder's Handbook, The Audubon
Encyclopedia of North American Birds, and Bent's life histories--all
indicated the birds excavated their own nests. Terres added that they do
use natural cavities and abandoned flicker nests also.

Papers I read some time ago indicated some real differences in the
abilities of different woodpecker species to stand off starlings, but I
don't recall the details right now--I think Red-headed and Red-bellied were
contrasted in one paper.

Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416