Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus principalisOrder: PICIFORMESFamily: Woodpeckers (Picidae)

General

Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Largest and rarest North American woodpecker, mostly jet-black with large white wing patches, large red crest, black chin and throat, and thick white stripes extending from bill to rear of wings. In flight, wings appear white with black tips and thick black center stripe. Bill is large and pale. Female has black crest. Probably extinct.

Range and 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.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"kent", "yank, yank, yank"

Interesting Facts

Considered extinct for many years, there has been recent evidence that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker may still live. In 2004, there was a reported sighting in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge of Arkansas. Scientists believe the evidence of the continued existence of these birds is credible. Since 2004 there have been reports of sightings in Florida as well. However, these are not as well substantiated.

It was given the species name principalis because it was believed to be the largest woodpecker. In fact there are at least two larger, one from Mexico and one from Southeast Asia.

This species also experienced dire persecution. For example, in Cuba, it was hung outside homes to prevent witchcraft.

A group of woodpeckers has many collective nouns, including a "descent", "drumming", and "gatling" of woodpeckers.

Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

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

Field Guide to Birds of North America