Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) Range: Southern United States, Texas to North Carolina Collection of the Everhart Museum The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker species in the United States. It has been listed as an endangered species, but was considered extinct by the end of the 20th century. After the American Civil War (1861-1865), deforestation by the timber industry left only sparse areas of suitable habitat for these birds. Recent reports of sightings suggest that the species may have survived extinction, but reports have not been confirmed. Found in southern bayous and swamps, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker uses its large white bill to hammer, wedge, and peel the bark off dead trees to find wood-boring beetle larvae, their primary insect food, though they also feed on seeds, fruit and other insects. These woodpeckers are believed to pair for life, and an adult pair need approximately an area of 10 square miles to find enough food for their young and themselves.

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