Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus principalis

Critically Endangered
Known as the "Lord God Bird," this elusive woodpecker has sparked heated debates and daring expeditions, with some believing it still haunts the swamps of the American Southeast.
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Visual Identification

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.

Size

Length

48cm to 53cm

Wingspan

76cm to 80cm

Weight

450g to 570g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Red

Beak Colour

Ivory

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Black White

Beak Colour (Female)

Ivory

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons
© 2024 - Birdfact
Resident
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Cuba
Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range
United States of America

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:
  • Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
  • Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
  • Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

  • 0-20: Very Low
  • 21-40: Low
  • 41-60: Average
  • 61-80: High
  • 81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker demonstrates remarkable agility in its foraging behaviour, swiftly manoeuvring through dense forests and expertly navigating tree trunks. Its ability to quickly flee when approached also suggests high agility.

Strength 90

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

With its powerful bill capable of stripping bark from trees and accessing food sources unavailable to smaller woodpeckers, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker exhibits exceptional strength for its size. Its loud drumming also indicates significant physical power.

Adaptability 70

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

While historically adaptable to various bottomland forests, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker's specialised diet and habitat requirements suggest moderate adaptability. Its possible extinction due to habitat loss indicates limitations in adapting to significant environmental changes.

Aggressiveness 60

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not known for aggressive behaviour towards other species. However, its powerful foraging technique and territorial drumming suggest a moderate level of assertiveness in defending resources and territory.

Endurance 80

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The bird's ability to engage in prolonged, vigorous foraging activities, including powerful drumming and stripping bark from trees, indicates high endurance. Its potential to cover large areas in search of suitable habitat also suggests considerable stamina.

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.

Vocalisation

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 and Status

Global Conservation Status

Critically Endangered [1]

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.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

1 - 49 mature individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

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.

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Lord God Bird, Grail Bird

Family:

Picidae

Average Lifespan

15 to 20 years

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.

Did You Know?

  1. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is one of the largest woodpecker species in the world.
  2. Its nickname, 'Lord God Bird,' comes from the exclamation people would make upon seeing it.
  3. 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.
  4. A 2022 study found some evidence for their continued existence, but concrete proof in the form of high-resolution photographs or footage remains elusive.
  5. Today, taxidermy specimens are still displayed at various museums.

FAQs

Is there a reward if you find an Ivory-billed Woodpecker?

Finding the critically endangered or extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker alive and well would be rewarding enough for most birdwatchers, but various rewards have been offered to assist in finding and leading scientists to these birds. At one point, there was even a reward of $50,000 on offer!

Why did people hunt Ivory-billed Woodpeckers?

Ivory-billed Woodpeckers were large birds that were hunted for their food value but also for their desirable eggs and feathers. They were also taken for display in museums and collections.

References

  1. 1 2

    website: BirdLife International. 2020. Campephilus principalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22681425A182588014.

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