Species Profile
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Campephilus principalis
Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Original photo by Arthur A. Allen, 1935 [1], watercolored by Jerry A. Payne, USDA-ARS, CC BY 3.0 US)
Quick Facts
Conservation
CRCritically EndangeredLifespan
15–20 years
Length
48–53 cm
Weight
450–570 g
Wingspan
76–80 cm
Migration
Resident
Also known as: Lord God Bird, Grail Bird
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Appearance
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is a striking, crow-sized bird with glossy black plumage contrasted by bold white markings on its neck and wings. Its most distinctive feature is a large, pale, ivory-colored bill and a prominent red crest on males.
Females closely resemble males but lack the red crest; instead, they have black crests. Both sexes display white secondary feathers, visible as a large white panel on the lower half of the wing when folded.
Juveniles appear similar to adult females, with black rather than red crests.
Identification & Characteristics
Male Colors
- Primary
- Black
- Secondary
- Red
- Beak
- Ivory
- Legs
- Grey
Female Colors
- Primary
- Black
- Beak
- Ivory
- Legs
- Grey
Female Markings
Lacks red crest, has black crest instead
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Historically, Ivory-billed Woodpeckers inhabited old-growth bottomland hardwood forests and cypress swamps in the southeastern United States, from North Carolina to Florida and west to eastern Texas and Arkansas.
Their range also extended to Cuba. Today, if any populations remain, they would likely be confined to remote, undisturbed forest areas in the southeastern U.S. or Cuba.
Distribution
Diet
Ivory-billed Woodpeckers primarily feed on wood-boring beetle larvae, which they extract from beneath the bark of dead or dying trees. They also consume fruits, nuts, and other insects.
Their strong bill allows them to access food sources unavailable to smaller woodpeckers, reducing competition.
Behaviour
Ivory-billed Woodpeckers are known for their powerful, rapid drumming on trees, which they use for communication and foraging. They typically forage in pairs, systematically stripping bark from dead or dying trees to access beetle larvae. These birds are generally wary and quick to flee when approached, making observation challenging.
Calls & Sounds
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker's call is described as a nasal 'kent' or 'hant' sound, often compared to a toy trumpet or clarinet. Their distinctive double-knock drumming pattern, louder and deeper than other woodpeckers, is a key identifier. The drumming is often described as sounding like two blows in quick succession: 'BAM-bam!'
Nesting & Breeding
Ivory-billed Woodpeckers form monogamous pairs, with breeding typically occurring between January and April. They excavate large, oval-shaped nest cavities high in living or dead trees, often reusing the same nest for multiple years.
Females typically lay 2-4 glossy white eggs. Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 20 days. After hatching, nestlings remain in the nest for approximately five weeks.
Fledglings continue to be fed by parents for several months after leaving the nest, learning complex foraging techniques.
Conservation
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is considered critically endangered and possibly extinct. Extensive habitat loss and historical hunting have decimated populations.
Despite occasional reported sightings, no conclusive evidence of living individuals has been documented since the 1940s. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection and continued searches.
Elevation
Up to 1,000 meters
Additional Details
- Predators:
- Adult Ivory-billed Woodpeckers have few natural predators due to their size, but potential threats include large raptors and arboreal snakes. Nest predators may include raccoons and squirrels.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for large, freshly stripped areas on dead trees, a sign of foraging activity
- Listen for loud, distinctive double-rap drumming sounds
- Search in mature, undisturbed bottomland forests
- Be extremely cautious and respectful, as any sightings could be of critical importance
- The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is most likely confused with the widespread Pileated Woodpecker. However, Pileated Woodpeckers are just half their weight, have white stripes above the eye and below the bill, and have much less white plumage on their wings. These smaller birds also have dark bills and eyes.
Did You Know?
- The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is one of the largest woodpecker species in the world.
- Its nickname, 'Lord God Bird,' comes from the exclamation people would make upon seeing it.
- The last confirmed U.S. sighting was in Louisiana in 1944, sparking decades of debate and search efforts. The last sighting of the Cuban subspecies was in the late 1980s.
- A 2022 study found some evidence for their continued existence, but concrete proof in the form of high-resolution photographs or footage remains elusive.
- Today, taxidermy specimens are still displayed at various museums.
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