Distinguishing Characteristics

Very large, crested woodpecker; 48–53 cm in length and with mass of 450–570 g (Winkler and Christie 2002). Plumage overall a rich black, almost glossy blue-black, especially on wing-coverts; outer primaries and tail duller black. Adult male has sides and back of crest bright red, white stripe on side of head extending from below eye down side of neck and onto side of back, broad white “shield” created by white of inner primaries and all secondaries when wings folded over back, and white nasal tufts at base of long, broad, and heavy ivory-white bill that is quite chisel-shaped at tip in mature indi-viduals; underparts black to brownish black, except undersurface of wing black and white; eyes clear lemon yellow; legs and feet light gray (colors in life according to Ridgway 1914). Female similar to male but slightly smaller, crest entirely black and somewhat longer, and was perhaps often slightly up-curved. Juveniles similar to adults of each sex but somewhat browner and with somewhat rounded tip to bill (especially from above) and shorter crest. Distinctive vocalizations included a single or double, simple “tin-horn toot.” Also produced loud, deliberate, “double rap” by striking bill on tree, as is characteristic of other Campephilus woodpeckers.

Color of bill in life as described above was given by Ridgway (1914), who noted that bill color became brownish yellow to ochraceous-buff in older specimens. Descriptions and painting by Audubon (1842) and photos by James Tanner (1942a) and Arthur Allen and Paul Kellogg (1937) also depict the ivory-white color of these as it existed in life. The striking white “shield” (described above) over back of perched bird was noted by W. Bartram (1791: 289), who referred to this species as “the greatest crested woodpecker, having a white back,” a characteristic that Coues (1875: 347) apparently seemed to think was a typographical error that should have read “having a white beak.” Sometimes known among early naturalists as the White-back Woodpecker.

Large size, white bill, and largely white wing distinctive within range. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) has crest and white stripes on neck but lacks large white “shield” on inner wing, is brownish black, and usually has a dark bill that is much smaller and more pointed than Ivory-billed’s. Although Pileated’s bill is dark horn to black, shading to yellow or horn on mandible and being more yellow in the gape of juveniles (Bailey 1927, Bull and Jackson 1995), the bill of the Pileated is somewhat variable in color, often shiny, and in sunlight can reflect a lighter appearance. See, for example, whiteness of mandible of Pileated in the excellent color photo in Bull and Jackson 1995 . Call of Pileated Woodpecker loud and resonant, totally unlike Ivory-billed’s; tapping sounds not the same echo-like cadence as double rap of latter species. Extensive scaling of bark associated with foraging and nest sites; nest-hole shape, and flight style not useful for identification.

Imperial Woodpecker of n.-central Mexico most similar in appearance to Ivory-billed, but no overlap in range. Imperial Woodpecker larger, lacks white stripes on sides of neck, and has black nasal tufts (white in Ivory-billed).