Nuthatch feeding Woodpecker nestling (1 Viewer)

Puffins4Life

Puffins4Life

• May 28, 2020

• #1

Today I witnessed a Nuthatch feeding a Great Spotted Woodpecker nestling peeking his head out from the nest hole. The Nuthatch did this over several trips. Eventually the adult female Woodpecker showed up and chased the Nuthatch off. Anyone else ever seen or heard about this type of behavior? I was really surprised to see it happen.

 

jurek

Well-known member

• May 28, 2020

• #2

It occasionally happens with diverse birds, when two nest holes are close together. Parents sort of mistake the place.

 

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• May 28, 2020

• #3

I've never seen anything like this in the decades I have been watching birds so to me, this would be very awesome to come by

 

Puffins4Life

Puffins4Life

• May 29, 2020

• #4

Very surprising to say the least!

 

SimonLS

Well-known member

• May 29, 2020

• #5

Oddly enough, while I was reading this Springwatch did a short piece on a Wren repeatedly feeding a nest of Blue Tits while the adults were present and a Great Tit feeding young Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

 

Bird_Bill

Well-known member

• May 30, 2020

• #6

Puffins4Life said:

Today I witnessed a Nuthatch feeding a Great Spotted Woodpecker nestling peeking his head out from the nest hole. The Nuthatch did this over several trips. Eventually the adult female Woodpecker showed up and chased the Nuthatch off. Anyone else ever seen or heard about this type of behavior? I was really surprised to see it happen.

Click to expand...

Our resident Sittidae, on this side of the world often stash gleaned tidbits into various cavities, such as small nooks under tree bark.

I have to wonder outloud, is the nuthatch assuming a parental role?
Or, merely putting away food in a handy yawning gape?

Both are plausible
We know that other animals "adopt" infrequently.

 

Last edited: May 30, 2020