The Zoologist/4th series, vol 5 (1901)/Issue 717/A Few Further Notes on the Great Spotted Woodpecker (''Dendrocopus major''), New

by Oliver H. New

 

A FEW FURTHER NOTES on the GREAT SPOTTED
WOODPECKER (DENDROCOPUS MAJOR).

By Oliver H. New.

 

I have already recorded an observation on this bird in 'The Zoologist' (1900, p. 278), and, having made some further notes from personal observations, which may be of interest, I propose to set them out in detail.

The previous note was made on May 15th, and during the remainder of that month I was frequently able to watch the tapping process, and to confirm the theory of its being used as a call between these birds. I found that the tone of the note never varied appreciably when the same bough was made use of, and, although I discovered the bird tapping on other trees on two occasions, yet the dead pine-bough mentioned in my former note was evidently the favourite place, owing to its proving so excellent a sounding-board. At a distance of some fifty or sixty yards from this pine-tree stood a partially dead beech-tree, and at a height of twelve feet or thereabouts from the ground, in the face of the trunk, I observed a freshly made hole, beneath which chips of dry wood were scattered on the ground. Suspecting that my friends D. major were responsible for this hole, I kept a sharp look-out, with the result that on several occasions, as I approached the tree, I saw one of these birds hurriedly leave it, and fly away to a distance. I soon discovered that, with these birds, owing to their extreme shyness and marvellous keenness in sight, it was impossible to make further observations without my being concealed, and consequently I took up a position (May 23rd) behind the lower branches of a beech-tree, at a distance of five or six yards from the hole, of which I had an excellent view.

After waiting for a quarter of an hour, at 5.30 p.m., the male bird flew to the tree, and settled on a dead bough just above the hole. He executed a series of comical sideway jumps, at the same time peering about him cautiously, eventually tapping gently with his beak upon the branch on which he was perching; but this produced very little sound, and he soon gave it up and flew away.

After about ten minutes both male and female birds appeared, and danced about on the trunk and the branches of the tree close to the hole, their antics being most amusing to watch. Presently the female bird perched upon a horizontal branch slightly below the level of my line of vision, and I actually observed the male bird tread her for some seconds. During this operation the male bird balanced himself by keeping both wings fully extended, and I obtained a particularly fine view of the outline of the wings and their beautiful markings. Fortunately my ambush proved an excellent one, and my presence was entirely unsuspected, although I was so close to the birds that I hardly had occasion to use my glasses. I was particularly impressed by the fact that both birds constantly uttered the peculiar soft twittering notes I had previously described—a kind of whispered sound of pleasure and satisfaction, as it were, to one another, which was most pleasing to the ear; while they never once gave utterance to their somewhat harsh, laughing, almost Owl-like cry.

Two days later I took up my position again at 7 a.m., and, after watching nearly half an hour, was amply rewarded, as both birds at length appeared. The male went inside the hole, and disappeared from view; but presently his head appeared, and a beakful of chips of wood was thrown from the nest and scattered on the ground. He worked away busily, and it was interesting to observe the curious jerk he gave to his head as he disposed of each beakful.

Sometimes one and sometimes both birds were on the tree, but the female appeared to do no work. When alone she perched perpendicularly on the tree-trunk, and peered into the hole; then she went inside and peered out; the next minute she was out again, and was apparently testing the hole by going in and out repeatedly, making a careful inspection of her future home both inside and out. On the two following days I again watched the male bird tapping on his pine-wood sounding-board, and was struck by the fact that the interval between each series of taps was longer than when I had first observed it earlier in the month. Another curious thing was that a final tap was added separately, as though one had been forgotten. After this the tapping was seldom, if ever, heard at all, which I attribute to the fact that the birds were then nesting, and that there was no further need for this method of attracting attention. I was unable to definitely satisfy myself that the tapping is done by the male bird only, but strongly incline to the view that it is so, as I never observed the female make use of this signal. I am not aware how far previous observers have confirmed this theory, and shall be interested to know what others may have to say in reference to it.

The last day upon which I have any note of hearing this tapping is May 27th, and, indeed, after that date I failed to make any observations of interest. I cannot say positively whether eggs were laid in the nest or not, for I have a great dislike to disturbing birds in any way; while, owing to absence from home during June, I was unable to discover whether a family appeared or not. The sequel to my story is, however, of considerable interest. On the night of Monday, Aug. 6th, the tree in which the nest was made was blown to the ground.

I was fortunate enough to obtain permission to cut a section from the trunk containing the Woodpecker's hole, and, after sawing through the tree in two places, managed to take home the prize. I subsequently reduced this section to a manageable size, and, having done so, cut the trunk through horizontally some four inches below the hole, and now have the nest in two sections. The measurements may be of interest. The opening is three inches from top to bottom, and two inches wide; the depth of the hole is eight inches, and the measurement from back to front inside five inches. The bottom of the hole is left somewha rough, with small points of wood sticking up, but the entrance is most beautifully smooth and venly worked. The hole is cut through the bark, and the section shows that the wood is sound for an inch and a half, after which the rest of the excavation was in quite rotten wood. There is another hole about two inches above and slightly to the left, which was commenced first, but subsequently abandoned in favour of the completed one. The reason for this is evident, as the face of the unfinished hole is perfectly soft and rotten, and the bark, being gone, it was unsuitable; whereas the face of the other hole is sound and firm. In this instance there is only one entrance to the nest, and not, as is said to be sometimes the case, two or more.