The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is one of the most elusive and sought-after birds in North America. This large woodpecker was once widespread across the southeastern United States but declined dramatically in the early 20th century due to habitat loss. By the 1940s, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker was believed to be extinct. However, there have been scattered sightings of the bird over the past few decades that have sparked hope that a few individuals may still persist in remote swamp forests.
Why is reporting sightings important?
Due to its rarity, any potential sighting of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker needs to be thoroughly documented and shared with the scientific community. Verified sightings can help conservationists better understand where remnant populations may still survive and what habitat needs to be protected for their recovery. Detailed reports by knowledgeable birders may provide the evidence needed to reclassify the species from extinct to rediscovered.
Who should I contact to report a sighting?
If you are fortunate enough to spot what you believe is an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, here are the main organizations you should notify:
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology – The Cornell Lab maintains records of sightings and has organized searches for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker since the early 2000s. They have specific instructions on their website for reporting sightings of rare birds.
- American Birding Association (ABA) – The ABA has a special reporting form for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers on their website and keeps track of credible sightings.
- State wildlife agencies – Check with your state’s department of natural resources or fish and game commission. Many states, especially in the Southeast U.S., have special interests in potential Ivory-billed Woodpecker presence and encourage reports from the public.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – As an endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be notified of any sightings of this rare bird.
Contact information and online reporting forms for these organizations are provided at the end of this article.
What information should I include in my report?
To maximize the usefulness of your report, you should include as many details as possible, such as:
- Your name and contact information (phone number, email address, mailing address)
- The date and time of the sighting
- The exact location – GPS coordinates are best if available
- A description of the habitat where you saw the bird
- Your viewing conditions (e.g. with binoculars, naked eye, lighting)
- The distance to the bird and amount of time you observed it
- A thorough description of the bird’s appearance and behavior
- Any distinguishing field marks you noticed (size, shape, plumage color patterns, etc.)
- The bird’s activities – e.g. foraging, perching, calling, flying, etc.
Include any photos, videos, or audio recordings you were able to obtain. Share any thoughts you have on what the bird was doing, whether there were potential nest sites nearby, etc. The more complete your description, the better chance experts will have in determining if it was indeed an Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
What makes an Ivory-billed Woodpecker sighting credible?
Ivory-billed Woodpeckers are notoriously difficult to find and identify. Ornithologists and state wildlife agencies have established some criteria they use to judge the credibility of reports:
- Sighting by an experienced, skilled birder who is familiar with the species
- Ample time to observe the bird’s diagnostic features
- Sighting conditions that allow all key field marks to be noted (lighting, distance, optics used, etc.)
- Location consistent with suitable remaining habitat and range
- Visual details recorded match Ivory-billed anatomy and plumage
- Characteristic behavior patterns observed (foraging, calling, etc.)
- Photographs or video documenting the sighting
- Audio recordings matching the distinctive Ivory-billed calls
Any evidence you can provide to support some of these credibility factors will bolster your report. The more thorough your account, the better.
What does an Ivory-billed Woodpecker look like?
Describing a sighting requires knowing the distinctive traits of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Here are some key identification features:
- Large size – About 19-20 inches long with a wingspan around 30 inches. Larger than most other woodpeckers found in its range besides the Pileated Woodpecker.
- White bill – Long chisel-like bill that is ivory white. This is perhaps its most unique feature.
- Bold black and white plumage – Mainly black body with bright white markings on the trailing edge of the wings. Males have a red crest on the head while females have a black crest.
- Strong direct flight – Powerful flapping flight with stiff wingbeats and bowed wings.
- Loud, ringing call – Often described as “kent” or “yank” – unlike calls of other woodpeckers.
The Ivory-billed is a striking, iconic woodpecker – if you’ve seen one before it is hard to mistake. Pay close attention to the bird’s plumage patterns, flight style, size, and calls. These are key to identifying an Ivory-billed Woodpecker sighting.
Where should I look for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers?
Ivory-billed Woodpeckers inhabited mature forests of heavy cypress and oak across the southeastern U.S. prime spots included:
- Swamps and flooded bottomland forests
- Dense river bottoms dominated by hardwoods
- Old growth pine savannas
- Cypress sloughs and tupelo swamps
Remaining populations are most likely restricted to large tracts of contiguous, mature forest. Promising areas include:
- White River National Wildlife Refuge (Arkansas)
- Pearl River swamps (Louisiana)
- Choctawhatchee River basin (Florida panhandle)
- Mobile-Tensaw River Delta (Alabama)
- Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
Focus your search efforts on forests with plenty of dead and dying trees, which provide prime foraging habitat. Nearby open fields and forest edges provide hunting perches. Be alert in any large, mature bottomland forest in the southeast U.S. – you may just spot this rare woodpecker!
What endangered species protections apply?
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is listed as Critically Endangered and possibly extinct by IUCN. It has been protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since 1967. Under this law it is illegal to harm, harass, or possess Ivory-billed Woodpeckers or their nests without a permit. Significant penalties can apply. If you do observe an Ivory-billed, do not disclose the exact location to the general public or on public forums like social media. Instead, report privately to reputable conservation organizations.
Are there any current research efforts?
There are some ongoing efforts to find and study Ivory-billed Woodpeckers by various government agencies, universities, and nonprofits. Some key initiatives include:
- Search efforts in Arkansas’ White River and Cache River watersheds from 2004-2006.
- Ongoing surveys of Congaree National Park by Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- Habitat studies and acoustic monitoring in Florida’s Choctawhatchee River.
- Attempts to use drones for surveys in Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin.
No definitive photographic or video evidence has been obtained since the 1940s despite these efforts. There is much debate about whether the Ivory-billed Woodpecker persists. Your sighting could provide the conclusive proof needed to spur expanded protections.
How can I help beyond reporting sightings?
You can contribute to Ivory-billed Woodpecker conservation in several other valuable ways:
- Join search efforts: Volunteer to help reputable organizations survey potential habitat.
- Advocate for protection: Support measures to conserve mature bottomland forests in the Southeast.
- Avoid disclosure: Keep locations secret to prevent exploitation of any Ivory-billed populations.
- Spread awareness: Share accurate information so more people know how to identify this species.
- Support research: Donate to groups studying the Ivory-billed’s ecology and documenting any rediscoveries.
Reporting sightings is crucial, but ongoing conservation engagement is also key to ensuring the survival of these rare woodpeckers.
Where can I learn more?
Here are some excellent online resources with additional details on the Ivory-billed Woodpecker:
- Audubon Guide to the Ivory-billed Woodpecker
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Ivory-billed Woodpecker Portal
- National Wildlife Federation Ivory-billed info
- Bird Watcher’s Digest Ivory-billed overview
Stay curious, informed, and involved! Together we can ensure this iconic woodpecker still graces swamps of the southeast into the future.
Sighting Report Contacts
To share a potential Ivory-billed Woodpecker observation, contact:
Organization | Phone | Online Report Form | |
---|---|---|---|
Cornell Lab of Ornithology | 800-843-2473 | [email protected] | eBird report form |
American Birding Association | 800-634-7736 | [email protected] | Online reporting form |
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | 1-844-IBW-BIRD | [email protected] | Online reporting form |
You can also contact your state’s wildlife agency – find their contact details at www.wildlifedepartments.com.