Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Make sure the area in which you saw the woodpecker is one in which an ivory-billed woodpecker would be found. The birds are found in large, old forests and tend to prefer swampy habitats. Because the bird is not known to inhabit smaller tracts of forest, any woodpecker seen in a backyard, golf course or other lightly forested area should be assumed to be a pileated woodpecker.
Confirm the species of the woodpecker that you wish to report. Because they have similar markings, the pileated woodpecker is often mistaken for the ivory-billed woodpecker. Both birds are primarily black with white markings and with the exception of ivory-billed females both have red crests. Though the ivory-billed woodpecker is larger than the pileated woodpecker, this is difficult to detect unless comparing the birds side by side. Both birds have a white patch on their back when the bird is perched; however, the white patch on the ivory-billed woodpecker is significantly larger. There are some key differences to help you pick out an ivory-billed woodpecker.
Notice the trailing edge on the wings. Wings on the ivory-billed woodpecker have a white trailing edge from above and below, while the pileated woodpeckers have a dark trailing edge.
Look at the white line on the bird's head. While both birds have a white line that starts on their head and runs down their side, the pileated woodpecker's white line starts immediately behind the bill and runs down the neck to the side of the bird. An ivory-billed woodpecker's white stripe starts below the eye and runs down the neck onto the back of the bird.
Note the color of the bird's beak. As its name implies the ivory-billed woodpecker has an all white bill. The pileated woodpecker has a bill that is dark horn to black shading to yellow. It should be noted that in bright sun the pileated woodpecker's beak can appear lighter.
Look at the color of the bird's crest, the feathers on the top of the head. A female ivory-billed woodpecker has a black crest while a female pileated woodpecker has a red crest, just like the male of both species.
Listen to the call of the woodpecker. The call of the ivory-billed woodpecker is described as being nasal in tone and sounding like "yank yank yank" and is compared to a nuthatch or a tin trumpet. The pileated woodpecker has a loud and deep call that sounds like "kuk kuk" or "yucka yucka yucka" and is similar to a flicker.
Make detailed notes about your sighting. You should note basic information like date, time and location. Describe the location in as much detail as you are able. Also describe the weather conditions at the time of the sighting as well as any behavior you observed by the bird. If possible, note the latitude and longitude coordinates for where you observed the bird.
Report all of this information using an online form. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has been conducting an ongoing search for the ivory-billed woodpecker and has a detailed form available at its website that you can fill out online. The Mississippi Ornithological society also collects rare bird sightings. The Mississippi Ornithological Society has a printable form available from its website, which can then be mailed in with any photographs or field notes that you may have.