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Platte River Status: An uncommon and local permanent resident across the study area.

Breeding Range: Largely restricted to the Platte River Valley physiographic region. Several old records exist from the Eastern Plain that consist of birds observed prior to 1950.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 250 nesting pairs.

Habitat: We found the highest mean nesting densities in lowland forests (1.9 pairs/km²), and in river channel island (<0.2 pairs/km²). The highest nesting densities in Illinois were in virgin or old-growth lowland forest (Graber et al 1977). Faanes and Andrew (1983) found the highest nesting densities on a northeastern North Dakota study area in mixed quaking aspen - green ash forest. Conner et al. (1975) reported highest nesting densities in Virginia from sparse forest stands with low basal area. Conner and Adkisson (1977) found that downy woodpeckers primarily occupied forest edge. Faanes (1981) found that downy woodpecker made extensive use of edge habitats in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Nesting territories in Illinois ranged from 0.5 to 1.2 ha (Graber et al. 1977).

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Downy woodpecker has benefited from de-watering of the Platte River system and the subsequent establishment of wooded vegetation within the river channel.

Nesting Data: Faanes observed an adult entering a nest cavity in North Platte, Lincoln County on 3 June 1980. Egg dates in Kansas extend from 11 April to 10 June (Johnsgard 1979).