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Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Critically Endangered

Campephilus principalis

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.

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

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