GS Woodpecker behaviour

[Wendy Woo]

I was at my local patch today and saw four GS Woodpeckers chasing each other from tree. One would land, be chased off by another, then that would be chased off too. Because they were high up I couldnt tell if they were male or female, or all males. They were very very vocal too. Would this be territorial behaviour, and if so isnt it a bit early ?

[Dogghound]

Several explainations come to mind, the most likely is that it is a good feeding or roosting area. I regularly get up to about 10 at a ringing site I use at the same time. They hold lose territories throughout the winter and are often seen together on feeders or posts/trees close to feeders. Woodpeckers are often quite highly strung birds and a lot of squabblng occurs when they are close, even when they are in a pair at the nest.

It could also be linked to territory with a number of birds trying to establish that part of the wood as their own (although this usually occurs between two birds). Although this usually occurs slightly later in the month into next month, I have heard them drumming this year though.