Linda and Tweeterites,

After studying Hairy and White-headed Woodpecker for the last eight years, I can tell you that drumming is used in a variety of contexts. First, it is used during the late winter/early spring as a way for birds to advertise possession of their territory and also as a means of attracting mates. Mated birds also use drumming to stay in contact with each other. And yes, at least in Hairys and White-headeds (and many other woodpeckers) both sexes drum.

The other way drumming is used is something I have noticed a lot in the last two years. I have been conducting detailed observations of nestling feeding during two hour intervals. Even though I dress in full camo and try to hide quite well, the adults know I am there. Usually after about the first 15 or 20 minutes, they settle down and continue on their business. However, some pairs are just extremely wary and drum considerably due to my presence. I seem to think this is more of a frustration drumming...being they are agitated and drum out of frustration. Also, they don't drum at other disturbances to their nest cavity, say an invading chipmunk or Douglas Squirrel, but only in the presence of a human (from what I can tell). It may also be a way for one bird to communicate with the other that something is amiss at the nest, but the other adult usually doesn't respond, only when it is bringing food back to the young. So, in other words, the adult away from the nest doesn't fly in as if in cavalry mode. Maybe it is used to alert the young that a predator is near, but the young also respond to simple alarm calls the adults make by remaining quiet and hunkering down in the bottom of the cavity. So why drum in response to a human at the nest? Got me!

Drumming is a really unique and interesting behavior and I think requires future detailed study to determine all its meanings.

Jeff Kozma

j c r underscore 5105 at charter dot net
----- Original Message -----
From: LINDA PHILLIPS
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 9:38 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] woodpecker behavior


Happy 3rd of July,

In early spring I hear lots of drumming by all five species of local woodpeckers. With mating season over and nesting activities in full swing the drumming had stopped. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that a Downy Woodpecker was drumming again on a snag behind my house. I wondered at the time if he was still looking for a mate or perhaps he had lost his mate and was making a second attempt to start a family this year. Today?s observations may have answered my questions. A young male downy woodpecker, with orange markings on its head, was working his way through the trees on the edge of the greenbelt that borders my backyard. I?d been observing him and the many other species visible from my back porch for 15-20 minutes when a second Downy landed on a snag and began drumming on a loose flap of bark. The Juvenile was in a tree about 20 feet away and when he heard the drumming he gave a whinny. The adult gave another drum roll and flew deeper into the green belt and the youngster followed him. My father used to whistle when it was time for us to come home. Papa Downy drums.

Any of you woodpecker experts out there feel free to correct me if my assumption is wrong.
Linda Phillips
Kenmore, 98028





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