During the late 1700s and 1800s, the red-headed woodpecker was a
common and widespread species in the Northeast. In the late1800s, large
concentrations of these birds were observed during fall migration
in New York and Long Island. Now they are considered to be an uncommon
migrant there. Today, only a handful of migrants are observed during
migration in Cape May.
By the turn of the 20th century, red-headed woodpeckers had suffered
population declines due to several different factors. Road mortality, competition
with European starlings for nesting cavities, and harvesting for their
feathers all contributed to their decline. Many populations of avian
species were greatly reduced to provide feathers for women’s hats.
Farmers also killed red-headed woodpeckers because they damaged fruit
and berry crops. Further population declines were observed from the
1930s to the 1970s. Habitat loss, the limited availability of nesting
sites, and road mortality exacerbated their decline.
Red-headed Woodpeckers have declined since the 1900s as their preferred savanna-type nesting habitats have become increasingly scarce due to outright habitat destruction and succession into closed forests through fire suppression and reductions in grazing.
Due to the loss of habitat, the Red-headed Woodpecker is a bird rarely
seen. Its breeding ground includes woodlands and grasslands throughout
North America. When it comes to building a nest, the Red-headed
Woodpecker is like a squatter. It would rather take over an abandoned
nest than build its own. It will even go so far as to use force to take
over another bird's nest.
These birds are considered annoying because they have been known to
cause damage to homes,they like to "drum," and they are early risers,
which causes them to be noisy in the morning with their pecking of the
trees.
Woodpeckers are a federally protected bird under the North American Migratory
Bird Act.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act decreed that all migratory birds and their
parts (including eggs, nests, and feathers) were fully protected. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act is the domestic law that affirms, or
implements, the United States' commitment to four international
conventions (with Canada, Japan, Mexico, and Russia) for the protection of
a shared migratory bird resource.
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