The Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) is one of the most iconic and elusive birds in North American ornithology. Here’s a detailed overview of this species:
🔍 Basic Information
- Scientific Name: Campephilus principalis
- Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers)
- Conservation Status: Critically Endangered / Possibly Extinct (IUCN Red List)
- Range: Historically found in the southeastern United States and parts of Cuba.
🐦 Physical Description
- Size: One of the largest woodpeckers in the world, around 18–20 inches (45–51 cm) in length with a wingspan of about 30 inches (76 cm).
- Coloration:
- Black body with white markings on the wings and neck.
- Males have a prominent red crest; females have a black crest.
- The bill is ivory-white, giving the bird its name.
🌲 Habitat
- Prefers mature bottomland hardwood forests and swamps with abundant dead or dying trees.
- Relies on these habitats for feeding (on beetle larvae under bark) and nesting.
❗️Conservation and Controversy
- Long thought to be extinct due to habitat destruction and hunting.
- Last universally accepted sighting: 1944 in Louisiana.
- Unconfirmed reports and brief sightings have continued into the 21st century:
- A high-profile claim in 2004 in Arkansas sparked massive interest and debate, but conclusive evidence has remained elusive.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed delisting it as extinct in 2021, but postponed the decision due to ongoing reports and public feedback.
📸 Identification Tips (vs. Pileated Woodpecker)
- Ivory-billed: White trailing edges on wings visible in flight, pointed crest.
- Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus): More common; has black trailing edges, different flight pattern, and a red crest on both sexes.
🧬 Cultural and Scientific Significance
- Known as the “Lord God Bird” because of the astonished exclamations people would make upon seeing it.
- Symbolizes both hope and loss in conservation circles.
- Subject of numerous searches, documentaries, and books.
Would you like help identifying one, learning about its calls, or exploring the most recent reports or expeditions related to it?