First description of the breeding biology and behaviour of the near threatened northern sooty woodpecker Mulleripicus funebris (Valenciennes 1826) (Piciformes: Picidae) in Luzon Island, Philippines

Autor: Vince Angelo G. Gicaraya, Carmela P. Española
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Natural History Sciences, Vol 11, Iss 1 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2385-0442
2385-0922
DOI: 10.4081/nhs.2024.701
Popis: Although generally regarded as keystone species within forest communities, woodpeckers (Picidae) remain understudied in the Philippines. We describe for the first time the breeding biology and behaviour of the IUCN Near Threatened northern sooty woodpecker Mulleripicus funebris based on observations from a single active nest found in a standing dead Parkia timoriana tree at the Subic Watershed Forest Reserve, Zambales, Luzon, Philippines. The nest was observed from late February to May 2022 for a total of 63.7 hours. The cavity was 16.4 m from the ground and had opening dimensions (L x W) of 9.0 x 8.0 cm and a depth of 37.0 cm. Breeding of M. funebris lasted ≈76-83 days from nest excavation (≈27 days) to fledging. The brood size was two. Both parents were involved in nest building and chick-rearing activities. The male M. funebris contributed more hours during nest building and diurnal incubation whereas the female dominated feeding of nestlings and nest sanitation during the time of fledging. We recommend the retention of standing dead trees as nesting sites for woodpeckers and already existing holes for other cavity-nesting fauna.
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