Summary
In 1991 a second female Grey-headed WoodpeckerPicus canus rearing the young was recorded. This seems to be the first case of helping recorded in European woodpeckers so far. The conditions and advantages of helping and being helped are described with regard to the special situation of an isolated population in the north-west of Lower Saxony, Germany. Compared to other pairs in the east of Lower Saxony the pair with helper raised more offspring (4 vs. 1 young/breeding pair).
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Südbeck, P., Meinecke, H. Grauspecht-WeibchenPicus canus als Helfer an der Bruthöhle. J Ornithol 133, 443–446 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640472
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640472