Subject: [Tweeters] RE: Woodpecker feeding roles
Date: Jul 8 22:16:56 2010
From: Tiffany - tiffany.linbo at gmail.com


Since we're on the topic of woodpecker feeding roles, I had a recent
question pop into my mind... for the past month I've had two fledgling
Pileated Woodpeckers coming to our suet feeders with either mom or dad.
The parent would gather the suet and feed the begging fledglings. I've
also seen only one fledgling come with the adult, so I assumed the other
sibling fledgling was just out of view or with the other parent. That
was until the other morning when I saw three fledgling Pileateds in the
backyard accompanied by a female and a male adult. First the female came
in with two fledglings. Then just as they had finished their feeding,
the male and the third fledgling came in. After a few moments, the
female took off followed by the two fledglings she originally flew in
with. As they left, the male went to the suet feeder with the third
fledgling.

My assumption was that the adults were a pair and had three fledglings.
Since Pileateds are territorial, I wouldn't expect them to share the
same area without some sort of confrontation. So do the adults separate
fledglings to make it easier for feeding (1 or 2 mouths is easier than
3)? Or may the 3rd fledgling from a second brood? Thoughts from
Tweeter's woodpeckers experts?

Tiffany Linbo
Mountlake Terrace, WA