RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER

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© Julia Sims

Picoides borealis

Federal Status: Endangered (October 13, 1970)
State Status: Endangered (December 20, 1989)

Description: Relatively small woodpecker. Back and wings black with prominent white bars. Crown, nape and back of neck black. Cheeks, side of neck and throat white. Black line from bill down to side of neck. White eyebrow line. Tail black with white on outer tail feathers. Underparts white with black streaks on flanks. Males with inconspicuous red marks on sides of crown ("cockades"). Immatures brownish and may have red on center of crown. Bill and legs black. Adults to 22 cm (8.7 in) total in length. No other black and white woodpecker found in the eastern U.S. has entirely white cheeks. Call sounds like a squeaky toy. A cooperatively breeding species typically found in groups that, in addition to the nesting pair, include 0-2 male offspring from previous nesting seasons. The set of cavity trees utilized by a group is referred to as a cluster. Red-cockaded Woodpeckers excavate cavities exclusively in live, mature pines. One to seven years may be required to excavate a cavity, which is then used for many years. Resin wells are excavated around the entrance to the cavity to inhibit predation, especially by rat snakes. Nesting occurs in the adult male's cavity; 2-5 eggs are incubated 10-13 days. Restricted to tracts of mature longleaf, also loblolly or slash pine forest that have been regularly burned (3-5 years) to reduce understory hardwood cover. Feeds on variety of insects gleaned from beneath bark scales; also consumes fruits of shrubs and vines.

Habitat: Longleaf pine forests, mixed pine-upland hardwood forest with little or no hardwood midstory. The average cavity tree age ranges from 60-126 years for longleaf pine, 70-90 years for loblolly pine and 75-149 years for shortleaf pine. Good foraging habitat consisting of pine stands with trees 10 in. and larger diameter at breast height (D.B.H).

Distribution: Widely distributed, but local, throughout the southeastern coastal states from eastern Texas to southern Maryland. Also in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Oklahoma. Formerly found throughout Louisiana in mature pine forest. There are fewer than 400 known active colonies remaining in Louisiana, nearly all are on 4 districts of Kisatchie National Forest.

Reasons for decline:

1. Loss of habitat from subdivision development;
2. Pine forests managed with short rotations;
3. Fire suppression, resulting in hardwood midstory on otherwise appropriate habitat.

March 2004

Conservation efforts:

1. Identify active clusters on private land and enroll these properties in Safe Habor Program (see below);
2. Increase public awareness of species and its habitat requirements through educational materials;
3. Participate in state-private sector cooperatives to address management issues pertaining to the species;
4. Cluster augmentation (moving birds from one population into another);
5. Artificial cavity inserts in areas where adequate habitat is present to allow for population expansion.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker Safe Harbor Program:

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) administers the Louisiana Statewide Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) Safe Harbor Program. LDWF enrolls non-Federal properties in the program by entering into Safe Harbor Management Agreements with landowners who own property which has the ability to provide a net conservation benefit for the RCW. Please visit the RCW Safe Harbor Program website for more details.