Campephilus principalis
– Critically Endangered
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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AVES
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Order:
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PICIFORMES
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Family:
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PICIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Campephilus principalis
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Species Authority:
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(Linnaeus, 1758)
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Common Name/s:
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| English | — | IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER |
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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CR C2a(i); D ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2005
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Assessor/s:
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BirdLife International
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Evaluator/s:
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Butchart, S. & Wege, D. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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This species was rediscovered in eastern Arkansas in 2004, 60 years after the last confirmed North American record. Although all sightings may have referred to just one individual, a large area of fairly suitable habitat remains. It may also survive in south-eastern Cuba, but there have been no confirmed records since 1987 despite many searches. The global population is likely to be tiny, and for these reasons it is treated as Critically Endangered.
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History:
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| 1988 | - | Threatened (Collar and Andrew 1988) |
| 1994 | - | Extinct (Collar, Crosby and Stattersfield 1994) |
| 2000 | - | Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2000) |
| 2004 | - | Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2004) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Campephilus principalis formerly occurred at low densities throughout the south-east USA (nominate principalis) and Cuba (race bairdii). Sixty years after the last confirmed North American record in north-eastern Louisiana in 1944, the species was rediscovered in 2004 in the Big Woods region of eastern Arkansas3. Seven confirmed sightings up to April 2005 were all in an area of 3 km² and may have all referred to the same individual, despite searches over an area of 41 km². An area of 220,000 ha of bottomland forest remains, of which 40% is currently approaching maturity3. It was considered extinct in Cuba after intensive searches did not find any new reports subsequent to those in 1986 and 1987. However, evidence from 1998 suggests that it may survive in the highest reaches of the Sierra Maestra in south-east Cuba, an area from which there had been no previous records1,2.
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Countries:
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Native:
United States
Possibly extinct regionally:
Cuba
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Population
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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It was originally found in both bottomland hardwood and montane (pine, mixed and broadleaf) forests. The Big Woods area comprises several distinct types of swamp and bottomland hardwood forests3. In Cuba, any remaining population is likely to be restricted to intact montane Pinus cubensis forests. The primary requirement is for dead trees, which harbour wood-boring insect larvae, its preferred food source. The breeding season in Cuba is March-June.
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System:
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Terrestrial
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Threats
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Threats:
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Logging and clearance for agriculture are responsible for the dramatic decline in numbers and range. These factors are likely to threaten any remaining population.
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Conservation measures underway:
After rediscovery in February 2004, intensive surveys involving dozens of observers, automatic camers and recording equipment have been carried out3. There have also been many searches in Cuba.
Conservation measures proposed:
Carry out further surveys in the Big Woods area to try to locate further individuals and determine the population size and distribution. Ensure strict protection of any nests and nesting trees, if found. Continue to carry out searches for the species in Cuba. Ensure the implementation of appropriate protective measures if a population is found in Cuba.
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