Houston, Jasper, Montgomery, Nacog- 

 doches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San 

 Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trini- 

 ty, Tyler, Walker. 



Virginia Prince Georges (?), Southampton (?), 

 Surry, Sussex (?). 



HABITAT 



Mature to over-mature southern pines are the 

 best habitat for roosting and nesting. Longleaf 

 {Pinus palustris), loblolly {Pinus taeda), shortleaf 

 (Pinus echinata), slash {Pinus elliottii), and pond 

 (Pinus rigida) pines are used, depending on local- 

 ity (Thompson and Baker 1971). Younger pines 

 (10 to 21cm d.b.h.) sometimes are used for forag- 

 ing, especially after an unusually hot burning of 

 the area which results in killed and weakened 

 trees which offer high-grade feeding areas (Beck- 

 ett 1974). Fire, an essential element of this habitat, 

 prevents thick understory. Red-cockaded wood- 

 peckers are discouraged by dense stands of pine 

 saplings and thick hardwood understories. 



Although over-mature pines are required for 

 nesting and roosting, the red-cockaded woodpeck- 

 ers will forage in a variety of habitat types 

 depending on food availability and proximity to 

 cavity-tree sites. 



The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Com- 

 mission (1976) and Nesbitt et al. (1978), have 

 studied fall habitat usage in a Florida flatwoods 

 community. Percent of total foraging time spent 

 in each habitat type was: 



Pond /slash pine flatwoods 43.8 



Longleaf pine flatwoods 38.2 



Slash pine plantation 9.4 



Bayhead/pond borders, 



cypress domes and others 6.5 



Roosting areas 2.2 



FOOD AND FORAGING BEHAVIOR 



The red-cockaded woodpecker feeds chiefly 

 on wood-boring insects, ants, beetles, grubs, grass- 

 hoppers, crickets, and caterpillers (Murphy 1939). 

 Analysis of 99 stomach content samples from the 

 Southeast revealed a diet of 84% insects and 16% 

 plant material (Beal 1911). Plant fruits eaten 

 include (Murphy 1939, Ligon 1970, Baker 1971a): 



Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) 



Magnolia {Magnolia grandi flora) 



Poison ivy {Rhus radicans) 



Wild grape ( Vitis sp) 



Pokeberry {Phytolacca americana) 



Blueberry {Vaccinium spp.) 



Wild cherry {Prunus serotina) 



Black gum {Nyssa sylvatica) 



Woodpeckers prey on the com earworm {Helicov- 

 era armigeva) when corn fields are nearby. (Baker 

 1971a). 



Foraging on a tree trunk it uses the bill and/or 

 feet to pry off pieces of bark, exposing insects. 

 One technique involves backing down the tree, 

 flaking off bark with the feet while catching prey 

 with the bill. 



SHELTER REQUIREMENTS 



Roosting requires a cavity in a living pine tree. 

 A sample of 259 cavity trees in east central Missis- 

 sippi ranged from 40 to 116 years in age, with a 

 mean of 75.9 years (Jackson 1977). Usually the 

 tree is infected with red heart {Fames pini), a 

 fungus disease which weakens the heartwood 

 (Affeltranger 1971). Jackson (1977) suggests a 

 cavity can provide an infection site for red heart 

 disease. After the heartwood is weakened, an 

 excavation can be completed. A tree may have 

 several roosting cavities. 



The distinguishing characteristic of a cavity 

 tree is the flow of sap that glazes the tree around 

 the opening. Birds initiate and maintain sap flow 

 by pecking out chunks of bark and cambium, 

 forming 'resin wells.' Active sap flow may pre- 

 vent predators and/or competitors from entering 

 the roost cavity (Ligon 1970, Dennis 1971, Jack- 

 son 1974). 



NESTING OR BEDDING 



The adult male's roost cavity is used for nest- 

 ing. The bottom of the gourd-shaped cavity is 

 covered with chips and debris; sap often smears 

 onto the eggs (Murphey 1939). 



RITUAL REQUIREMENTS 



Mating behavior, as observed by Crosby 

 (1971a): the female landed near the male and 

 raised her tail. The male mounted from her left 

 side, fell, separated, and resumed feeding after 3 

 seconds. 



OTHER CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL 

 REQUIREMENTS 



Clan (see Reproduction) home-range require- 

 ments depend on three variables: clan size, habitat 

 type, and season. Crosby (1971b) followed two 

 color-marked adult pairs in north central Florida 

 during the spring. This study produced an average 

 estimate of 17.2 ha per adult pair. Baker (1971b), 

 observing color-marked individuals in north Flo- 



