Comparative breeding biology of Picus canus and Dendrocopos major in the midwestern region of South Korea.

This study focuses on comparing the breeding biology of two sympatric woodpecker species, Picus canus and Dendrocopos major, in midwestern South Korea to identify interspecific differences in breeding strategies. Over four breeding seasons, 106 nests were monitored, revealing that both species primarily nested in the same deciduous tree species—Paulownia coreana, Prunus sargentii, and Castanea crenata—but P. canus selected taller and larger-diameter trees. D. major initiated egg-laying about two weeks earlier, while P. canus exhibited larger clutch sizes and longer incubation periods; however, no significant differences were found in nestling periods or hatching and fledging success rates. These findings suggest that despite overlapping nesting resources, the two species display distinct breeding traits potentially linked to differences in body size and ecological requirements, contributing to understanding coexistence mechanisms among cavity-nesting birds in temperate East Asian forests.