Dew-bathing in the Atlantic Forest endemic Robust Woodpecker Campephilus robustus (Lichtenstein, 1823) (Aves: Picidae)

The bathing behavior of woodpeckers (Picidae) is almost unknown and the paucity of reports of bathing in the family has led to suppositions that they may do so rarely. An unusual observation of the Atlantic Forest endemic Robust Woodpecker Campephilus robustus dew-bathing socially is reported from Paraguay and discussion of its significance follows. Dew-bathing has been reported for a small number of New World bird families and has often been linked to a shortage of water, but has never been previously reported in New World Picidae. Given the environmental conditions in this humid habitat it is considered that dew-bathing in this family is related to structure and ecological constraints and not to limited access to water. Picids are highly arboreal birds with structural modifications for arboreality that make them awkward and thus potentially vulnerable when on the ground. A propensity for dew-bathing in forest canopies at sunrise may be a factor in the rarity of such observations and contribute to the lack of published reports.

___

  • Ash JS (1970). Observations on a decreasing population of Redbacked Shrikes. British Birds 63: 185-205. Baptista LF (1973). Leaf bathing in three species of Emberizines. Wilson Bulletin 85: 346-347.
  • Brilot BO, Asher L, Bateson M (2009). Water bathing alters the speedaccuracy trade-off of escape flights in European starlings. Animal Behaviour 78: 801-807.
  • Cornish AV (1951). Chiffchaff bathing on wet leaves. British Birds 44: 175.
  • Dow DD (1968). Dew bathing and related behavior of the Cardinal. Bird-Banding 39: 227-228.
  • Eisermann K (2005). An observation of foliage-bathing by an Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus) in Mal, Guatemala. Wilson Bulletin 117: 415-418.
  • Ficken MS (1962). Maintenance activities of the American Redstart. Wilson Bulletin 74: 153-165.
  • Gorman G (2014). Woodpeckers of the World. The Complete Guide. London, UK: Christopher Helm.
  • Hancock M (1965). Birds ‘bathing’ in snow and wet grass, leaves and earth. British Birds 58: 155-156.
  • Hubbard JP (1983). Calliope hummingbirds bathe on wet leaves. NMOS Bulletin 11 (1): 14-15.
  • Löhrl H, Thaler E, Christie DA (1996). Status and behaviour of the Tenerife Kinglet. British Birds 89: 379-386.
  • Madge SM (1964). Carrion Crow ‘bathing’ on lawn. British Birds 578: 328-329.
  • Mayfield HF (1960). The Kirtland’s Warbler. Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA: Cranbrook Institute of Science.
  • Miller AH (1942). Shower bathing of a spotted towhee. Condor 44: 232.
  • Nolan V (1960). Breeding behavior of the Bell Vireo in southern Indiana. Condor 62: 225-244.
  • Okahisa Y, Nakahara T, Sato NJ, Theuerkauf J (2015). Puddle use by New Caledonian rainforest birds. Ornithological Science 14: 41-45.
  • Oliver PJ (1979). Sand Martins drinking and apparently bathing in dew. British Birds 72: 36.
  • Short LL (1982). Woodpeckers of the World. Greenville, DE, USA: Delaware Museum of Natural History Monograph Series 4.
  • Slessers M (1970). Bathing behavior of land birds. Auk 87: 91-99.
  • Spencer KG (1982).Willow Warbler bathing in dew. British Birds 75: 36.
  • Stainton JM (1982). Timing of bathing, dusting and sunning. British Birds 75: 65-86.
  • Taylor JS. 1966. The bathing behaviour of some South African birds. Ostrich 37 (Supplement): 193-196.
  • Verbeek NAM (1962). On dew bathing and drought in passerines. Auk 79: 719.
  • Winkler H, Christie DA (2018). Woodpeckers (Picidae). In: Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Barcelona (Spain): Lynx Edicions. Available online at https://www.hbw.com/ node/52286.
  • Winkler H, Christie DA, Nurney D (1995). Woodpeckers. A Guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets and Wrynecks of the World. East Sussex, UK: Pica Press.