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<p>The foraging behaviour and habitat use of the Eurasian Green Woodpecker <italic>Picus viridis</italic> at various sites in Hungary over a 20-year period was documented. Detailed observations were recorded on foraging behaviour at hard substrates; in quarries, cliffs and human made structures of brick and stone construction. Using Chi-square tests on the frequency of observations of birds at hard substrates foraging sites, we compared usage during periods of snow cover and those without. Birds were found to be more frequently observed at hard substrates during periods of snow cover because these remained largely free of snow. We supposed that this response was due to invertebrate prey becoming increasingly scarce generally across typical foraging sites, i.e. grasslands and meadows during harsh winter conditions. Accessibility to the alternative sites became important as a source of food because availability of prey was more reliable. Vertical surfaces of hard substrates such as those associated with quarries, cliffs and buildings may be important to sustain Eurasian Green Woodpeckers in periods of snow cover where these provide a valuable foraging resource.</p>
</abstract>

The foraging behaviour and habitat use of the Eurasian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis at various sites in Hungary over a 20-year period was documented. Detailed observations were recorded on foraging behaviour at hard substrates; in quarries, cliffs and human made structures of brick and stone construction. Using Chi-square tests on the frequency of observations of birds at hard substrates foraging sites, we compared usage during periods of snow cover and those without. Birds were found to be more frequently observed at hard substrates during periods of snow cover because these remained largely free of snow. We supposed that this response was due to invertebrate prey becoming increasingly scarce generally across typical foraging sites, i.e. grasslands and meadows during harsh winter conditions. Accessibility to the alternative sites became important as a source of food because availability of prey was more reliable. Vertical surfaces of hard substrates such as those associated with quarries, cliffs and buildings may be important to sustain Eurasian Green Woodpeckers in periods of snow cover where these provide a valuable foraging resource.

Substrate influences foraging selection by Eurasian Green Woodpeckers <italic>Picus viridis</italic> in autumn and winter: observations in Hungary over a 20-year period

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Substrate influences foraging selection by Eurasian Green Woodpeckers  in autumn and winter: observations in Hungary over a 20-year period

The foraging behaviour and habitat use of the Eurasian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis at various sites in Hungary over a 20-year period was documented....

Substrate influences foraging selection by Eurasian Green Woodpeckers Picus viridis in autumn and winter: observations in Hungary over a 20-year period

Published Online: Jun 30, 2022

Page range: 173 - 178

Received: Dec 10, 2021

Accepted: Feb 26, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0013

Keywords
woodpecker, foraging, terrestrial-feeding, snow-cover, substrate, ants

© 2022 Gerard Gorman et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Substrate influences foraging selection by Eurasian Green Woodpeckers Picus viridis in autumn and winter: observations in Hungary over a 20-year period

Published Online: Jun 30, 2022

Page range: 173 - 178

Received: Dec 10, 2021

Accepted: Feb 26, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0013

Keywordswoodpecker, foraging, terrestrial-feeding, snow-cover, substrate, ants

© 2022 Gerard Gorman et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
woodpecker, foraging, terrestrial-feeding, snow-cover, substrate, ants