Habitat and space use of the red-naped sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, in the Hat Creek valley, south-central British Columbia
Date
1996
Authors
Walters, Eric Lawrence
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
As a double keystone species, Red-naped Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) play a crucial role within the communities they are found, yet overall habitat use is poorly known. A study of habitat and space use of Red-naped Sapsuckers was undertaken in the Hat Creek valley of south-central British Columbia, Canada. Individual adult birds were radiotagged and then tracked to measure site fidelity, habitat use, and overall movements. Sapsuckers were shown to exhibit a home range both on a daily and multiday level and thus, home ranges were determined by the minimum convex polygon method (x = 13.23 ha± 3.767 SE, n=lO).
Willow (Salix bebbiana, S. prolixa, S. drummondiana, S. scouleriana) was found to be an important habitat for sap feeding, live heart rot (Phellinus igniarius)-infected Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides) was important for nesting, and large (>30 cm diameter at breast height) Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) for insect gleaning.
Birds nested among significantly larger and denser aspen relative to availability. Nests were usually excavated in the year they were used, tended to face southwest, and were usually in a tree that harboured several other cavities