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Reproductive success and nestling diet in the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picoides minor): the early bird gets the caterpillar

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Abstract

Populations of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picoides minor) are decreasing in size, necessitating management strategies. However, data on the reproductive biology of this species are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of timing of breeding and nestling diet on the reproductive success of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and thereby contribute to an understanding of the determinants influencing its reproductive success. During 6 study years between 1996–2003, we investigated various variables of reproductive success in a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker population in the Taunus low mountain range, Germany. We observed nestling feeding at breeding holes to assess the composition of nestling diet and how it changes during the season. Clutch size, number of fledglings as well as body mass of the nestlings declined with the start of egg laying. Pairs composed of individuals that had breed together in previous years started egg laying earlier than newly established pairs. Nestling diet consisted mainly of aphids, caterpillars, craneflies and wood-living larvae. The composition changed considerably within the breeding season in both early and late broods. However, early broods were provided with caterpillars more frequently, whereas late broods received wood-dwelling larvae more often. Our results suggest that Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers time their breeding so as to coincide with the early nestling stage with the highest availability of caterpillars, since this is the time of highest energy demand. Moreover, food availability declines during the breeding season, and the decline in reproductive performance seems to be an effect of this development.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all of the field helpers for their dedication and Ulf Wiktander for comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. We thank the Deutsche Wildtierstiftung for financial support. The study was sponsored by the Scholarship Programme of the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU). All work carried out within the framework of this project complies with the current laws of Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biologie und Biochemie, Universität Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 3, 14469, Potsdam, Germany

    Eva Rossmanith, Niels Blaum & Florian Jeltsch

  2. Naturstiftung David, Trommsdorffstr. 5, 99084, Erfurt, Germany

    Kerstin Höntsch

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  1. Eva Rossmanith
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  2. Kerstin Höntsch
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  3. Niels Blaum
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  4. Florian Jeltsch
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Correspondence to Eva Rossmanith.

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Communicated by F. Bairlein.

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Rossmanith, E., Höntsch, K., Blaum, N. et al. Reproductive success and nestling diet in the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picoides minor): the early bird gets the caterpillar. J Ornithol 148, 323–332 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0134-4

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