Assessment of Potential

Habitat for Red-Headed

Woodpeckers (Melanerpes
erythrocephalus) in New Jersey.
Evan Drake and Morgan Jenkins

Preferred Habitat

Oak savanna

Open fields

Trees w/ large DBH

Oak/hickory

Standing dead wood

Clear understory

(Smith et al. 2000)

Image from PEFC

Finland forest
certification page at
www.pefc.fi

Diet

Catches insects on the wing or

pick them off of plants (Beal
1895, Waldstein 2012).

Acorns and other nuts are

collected and stored for the
winter (Hay 1887, Kilham
1958).

Southern Pine Beetle?

(Edworthy et al. 2011, Lindell
et al. 2008)

Image from an article in www.startribune.com taken in Cedar Creek, Minnesota

Management

Controlled burns (clear

understory)

Thinning (reduce density)

Clear-cuts (create fields for

foraging)

Girdling (create large snag

for nesting)

(Vierling and Lentile 2006,

Waldsteing 2012)

Image from an article on Stockton burns in the Forked River Gazette at

www.forkedrivergazette.com

Methodology

Equipment used

Choosing plots

Defining variables

Measurement techniques

Accuracy / Errors

Potential Human Error

Instrument Precision

Haglf accuracy and branch

interference

Tree identification

Base of tree

Handheld accuracy vs. tripod

In/Out trees

Variable DBH with calipers

Tree health

Shift in plot center

GPS coordinates

Equipment

Determining live crown

Error in results: 10.25% error with Haglf in height to live crown measurements

Field Results

Classification of forest
stands

Stand density (basal

area)

Height to live crown

Tree health

Suitable branching

Understory height

Conclusion

Data needs to be compared to current habitat before conclusions can be

drawn.

Highlights from preliminary results:

~71% of trees had dead limbs

Some areas with higher oak composition
Proper management is in place for the
future

Personal opinion: Probably not suitable habitat (yet)

Works Cited
1. Beal, F.E.L. 1895. Preliminary report on the food of woodpeckers. U.S.
Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 7. Washington D.C.
2. Edworthy, A.B., M.C. Drever, and K. Martin. 2011. Woodpeckers increase in
abundance but maintain fecundity in response to mountain pine bark beetles.
Forest Ecology and Management 261(2): 203-210.
3. Hay, O.P. 1887. The Red-Headed Woodpecker: a Hoarder. The Auk 4(3): 193196.
4. Kilham L. 1958. Sealed-in Winter Stores of Red-Headed Woodpeckers. The
Wilson Bulletin 70(2): 107-113.
5. Lindell, C.A., D.G. McCullough, D. Cappaert, N.M. Apostolou, and M.B. Roth.
2008. Factors Influencing Woodpecker Predation on Emerald Ash Borer. The
American Midland Naturalist 159(2):434-444.
6. Smith, K.G., Withgott, J.H. and Rodewald, P.G. 2000. Red-headed Woodpecker
(Melanerpes erythrocephalus). The Birds of North America 518: 28.
7. Vierling K. and L. Lentile. 2006. Red-headed woodpecker nest-site selection
and reproduction in mixed ponderosa pine and aspen woodland following fire.
The Condor 108:957962.
8. Waldstein, A.L. 2012. Nest site selection and nesting ecology of Red-headed
Woodpecker. Masters Thesis, University of Minnesota.