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Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus principalis

Bird · family Picidae · order Piciformes

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Endangered[1]
NatureServe global rank
GX Presumed Extinct[2]
Native in
1 state[3]
Typical length
20 in[4]

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is a bird in the woodpecker family[5]. NatureServe ranks it as presumed extinct, and it is still listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the species a global rank of GX, which means presumed extinct[2]. Its national rank for the United States is NX, which means presumed extirpated, or gone from the country[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Critically endangered[7]. Under the US Endangered Species Act it is listed as Endangered, since March 11, 1967[1]. It is also on the federal list of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed March 11, 1967
NatureServe global rank[2] GX (Presumed Extinct)
NatureServe US rank[6] NX (Presumed Extirpated)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Critically endangered
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] Zero, no individuals known extant

Where Ivory-billed Woodpecker lives

NatureServe lists Arkansas as the one US state where the bird is native[3]. In Arkansas the state rank is SU, which means the status is unrankable for now[10]. NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated in these states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXMOKentucky: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: native, state rank SUARTennessee: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXTNNorth Carolina: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXNCSouth Carolina: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXBOKLouisiana: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXLAMississippi: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXMSAlabama: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXALGeorgia: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXTXFlorida: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (16 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSXPresumed Extirpated
ArkansasSUUnrankable
FloridaSXPresumed Extirpated
GeorgiaSXPresumed Extirpated
IllinoisSXPresumed Extirpated
KentuckySXPresumed Extirpated
LouisianaSXPresumed Extirpated
MarylandSXPresumed Extirpated
MississippiSXPresumed Extirpated
MissouriSXPresumed Extirpated
North CarolinaSXPresumed Extirpated
OhioSXPresumed Extirpated
OklahomaSXBPresumed Extirpated (breeding)
South CarolinaSXPresumed Extirpated
TennesseeSXPresumed Extirpated
TexasSXPresumed Extirpated

Habitat

NatureServe records hardwood, conifer and mixed tree habitats for this bird, plus wooded wetland and riparian (streamside) areas[12]. In the US it lived in swampy woods, especially large bottomland swamps on the coastal plain and cypress swamps in Florida[13]. For nesting, it preferred dead trees or dead sections of living trees[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size and diet

NatureServe describes the adult diet as invertivore, meaning it eats mostly small animals without backbones[14]. It ate mainly the larvae and adults of wood-boring beetles found in dying and recently dead trees[15]. It also ate some tree fruits and seeds[15]. EltonTraits estimates its diet at 80% invertebrates, 10% seeds and 10% fruit[16]. NatureServe records a typical length of 50 cm (20 in)[4]. It records a typical adult weight of 511 g[17].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 50 cm (20 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 511 g (18.0 oz)
Food habits[14] Invertivore
Migration[18] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[16]

  • 80% invertebrates
  • 10% seeds
  • 10% fruit

When to look for it

NatureServe lists the species as a non-migrant, though populations can differ[18]. GBIF observation records in the United States are highest in February, March and April[19]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[19].

January: 14 recordsJanFebruary: 43 recordsFebMarch: 62 recordsMarApril: 28 recordsAprMay: 15 recordsMayJune: 11 recordsJunJuly: 10 recordsJulAugust: 9 recordsAugSeptember: 5 recordsSepOctober: 4 recordsOctNovember: 21 recordsNovDecember: 18 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[19].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January14
February43
March62
April28
May15
June11
July10
August9
September5
October4
November21
December18

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, Mississippi[20]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Ivory-billed Woodpecker endangered?
It is listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it as presumed extinct worldwide[2].
Where does the Ivory-billed Woodpecker live?
NatureServe lists Arkansas as the only US state where it is native[3]. It is ranked as extirpated or possibly extirpated in many other states[11].
What does the Ivory-billed Woodpecker eat?
It ate mainly wood-boring beetle larvae and adults, and some tree fruits and seeds[15]. EltonTraits estimates 80% invertebrates, 10% seeds and 10% fruit[16].
How big is the Ivory-billed Woodpecker?
NatureServe records a typical length of 50 cm (20 in)[4]. It records a typical adult weight of 511 g[17].
When are Ivory-billed Woodpecker records reported?
GBIF records in the US peak in February, March and April[19]. This reflects when people report, not how many birds exist[19].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Ivory-billed woodpecker has the status Endangered, listed March 11, 1967 (USFWS ECOS). States in the listed range: Arkansas. USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Ivory-billed Woodpecker: GX (Presumed Extinct). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Ivory-billed Woodpecker as native in 1 US state or territory: Arkansas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 50 cm (20 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) is a bird in the family Picidae, order Piciformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: NX (Presumed Extirpated). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Critically endangered. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Ivory-billed Woodpecker is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): Zero, no individuals known extant. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Ivory-billed Woodpecker (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe ranks Ivory-billed Woodpecker as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Forested wetland, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Ivory-billed Woodpecker. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Ivory-billed Woodpecker. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 80% invertebrates, 10% seeds, 10% fruit. EltonTraits 1.0
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 511 g (18.0 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe migration category for Ivory-billed Woodpecker: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  19. GBIF observation records of Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  20. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, Mississippi. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.