Breeding Biology of Scaly-Bellied Woodpecker, Picus squamatus, in Margalla Hills National Park, Pakistan

The study was designed to investigate the breeding biology of scaly-bellied woodpecker (Picus squamatus) in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), Pakistan. Ten active nests were located on tree trunks and out of these five successful nests were made at 1-3 meters, 2 at 5.1-7 meters, 1 at 9.1-11 and two were made at 13.1-15 meter height. Scaly-bellied woodpecker nests were built on chir pine Pinus roxburghii 13 (46%) and paper mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera 15 (54%) in MHNP. The clutch size was 4-6 and incubation period 16-17 days. Fifty threee eggs were laid in the active nests, 42 (79.25%) hatched, 7 (13.21%) eggs were infertile and 4 (7.54%) eggs were destroyed. Out of 42 nestlings, 36 (85.71%) fledged and remaining 6 (14.29%) were lost. No predation was recorded in the present study. The body weight of nestlings up to five days was recorded as 10, 16, 22, 30 and 36 g on the 1-5th day of hatching. This is the first ever report on the breeding biology of scaly-bellied woodpecker population present in Margalla Hills National Park, Pakistan.