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Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) abundance and foraging in Tierra del Fuego, Chile

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Abstract

The Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) is a vulnerable and poorly studied bird in the sub-antarctic deciduous and evergreen beech (Nothofagus) forests of South America. On Tierra del Fuego island (Chile), we compared Magellanic woodpecker abundance and its foraging habitat in two forest types: pure N. pumilio and mixed forests composed by N. pumilio and N. betuloides, including managed and non managed stands. At a regional scale, abundance of woodpeckers was greater in landscapes including both forest types than in pure N. pumilio landscapes. When both forest types occurred together, woodpecker abundance did not differ between them. The number of trees with foraging signs was correlated with Magellanic woodpecker abundance and was also associated with N. betuloides and snag densities, but was not affected by forest management. Occurrence of pecking on foraging trees was greater in mixed Nothofagus than pure N. pumilio stands. Woodpeckers foraged disproportionately more on larger diameter and more decayed trees. Moreover, trees used for foraging were positively correlated with canopy cover and snag density and were negatively correlated with distance to nearby peatlands and beaver ponds. Direct observation revealed that the flying distance between trees was negatively correlated with proportion of trees with foraging signs. Woodpeckers chose trees that were visited before, suggesting a pattern of tree recognition within foraging territories.

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Acknowledgements

This project was developed while participating on the Rio Cóndor Monitoring Program, Trillium Ltda. and then Savia Ltda., Punta Arenas. Special thanks are due to Edmundo Fahrenkrog (deceased) and Jose Garcinuño who permitted the use forest sites and facilities. Dieter Egger and Pascale from Switzerland, and Mireya Briones helped with data collecting and observations in the field. Permits for capturing and handling birds were obtained from the regional SAG (Servicio Agricola y Ganadero) office. We appreciate the improvements in English usage and statistical approach made by James Roper through the Association of Field Ornithologists’ program of editorial assistance. We dedicate this paper to Dr. Mary Kalin-Arroyo and Dr. Jerry Franklin for stimulus during the Monitoring program.

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  1. Departamento de Ecología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda 340, C.P. 6513677, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile

    Pablo Vergara

  2. Instituto de Zoología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Isla Tejas, Valdivia, Chile

    Roberto P. Schlatter

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  1. Pablo Vergara
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  2. Roberto P. Schlatter
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Correspondence to Roberto P. Schlatter.

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Communicated by F. Bairlein

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Vergara, P., Schlatter, R.P. Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) abundance and foraging in Tierra del Fuego, Chile. J Ornithol 145, 343–351 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-004-0052-7

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