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Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus principalisOrder: PICIFORMESFamily: Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Ivory-billed Woodpecker Male Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Dagger, All-purpose
  • Eye Color: Dark brown to dark red-brown in juvenile birds, developing to yellow in adults. Yellow iris of adults variable from cream to bright yellow. Progression of eye color change not documented.
  • Head Pattern: Crested or plumed
  • Crown Color: Red crest
  • Forehead Color: Black
  • Nape Color: Black
  • Throat Color: Black
  • Cere color: No Data
Ivory-billed Woodpecker Male Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 48-51 cm (19-20 in)
  • Weight: 510-567 g (18-20 oz)
  • Size: Size 4. Large (16 - 32 in)
  • Color: Red, White, Black
  • Underparts: Black
  • Upperparts: Black
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Ivory-billed Woodpecker Male Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Strong and direct flight.
  • Wingspan Range: 76-81 cm (30-32 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black
  • Under Tail: Black
  • Leg Color: Gray
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Family Woodpecker (Picidae)_blue
Species Campephilus principalis
Length19 - 20 Inches
Wingspan31 Inches

Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Largest and rarest North American woodpecker, jet-black with white wing patches, large red crest, black chin, throat. Thick white stripes extend from bill to rear of wings. In flight, wings appear white with black tips and thick, black center stripe. Pale, large bill.

● Song: "kent", "yank, yank, yank"

● Foraging & Feeding: Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Feeds on insects, primarily beetle larvae, and sometimes fruits and nuts. Requires extensive stands of mature forests with many recently dead, but still standing, trees where beetle larvae live. When foraging, strips the still-tight bark from dead trees.

● Breeding & nesting: Ivory-billed Woodpecker: One to five eggs are laid in a cavity excavated in a dead or partially dead tree. Eggs are incubated for 20 days by both parents.

● Similar species: Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Pileated Woodpecker is smaller, does not show white on wings when perched, has red crest in sexes, and has gray to black bill.

Flight Pattern

Strong and direct flight.
Ivory-billed Woodpecker Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Historically ranged in southeastern U.S., from Ohio River Valley to east Texas, the Gulf coast, and Florida; thought to be extinct for more than 60 years, but possibly rediscovered in the "Big Woods" region of eastern Arkansas. Preferred habitats include old growth, bottomland forests. Even healthy populations of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers were sparse, needing about 16 square kilometers to support one pair.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationProbably extinct
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight18 - 20 Ounces