Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers by Audubon

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Piciformes
Family : Picidae
Genus : Campephilus
Species : principalis

Length : 18-20in
Wingspan : 31in

IUCN Status : Critically Endangered, but quite possibly Extinct

The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker is/was one of the largest of all the Woodpeckers. Now, I say "is/was" because the current status of this bird is unknown. It was previously thought to be extinct, but then in 2005 a few birds were sighted in Arkansas. However, despite years of effort, and searches over thousands of square miles, no other birds have been located.

Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers were found in the South-East United States, living in old growth forests. During the 19th century these habitats were destroyed, causing the birds to lose their homes. By the mid 20th century, they were believed to be extinct in the United States. Report in Cuba continued until the 1980s, but that population is now also believed to be gone.

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker circa 1935

Before they were lost, a decent amount of information was obtained about the behavior of the species. For example, pairs mate for life and share the responsibilities of raising their young.They feed off of beetle larvae, and excavate nests high up in trees. Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers also have distinctive calls and raps, which ornithologists have been listening for in their search for these rare birds.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology continued to put together searches for the Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers, but no birds have turned up since the initial 2005 push. They suspended their searching in 2010. Other projects began in Florida, but they too came up relatively empty. Maybe they are still out there, maybe they aren't. It's another sad story of a species lost.

Keel-Billed Toucan

(Image Source)

I'm looking out the window right now and it's pretty miserable. The sky is gray, there is slushy snow everywhere... I think I need a little color. And what better animal than the Toucan to brighten up a day?

There are around 40 different species of Toucan (sources I've seen differ, but 42 seems like a pretty accurate one). Of all these species, today's feature, the Keel-Billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), is on the larger side, and definitely sports one of the most colorful bills. They grow to be about 20in (52cm) long, and sport bills that can be as much as 1/3 their entire body size! They weigh up to 500g, with males being slightly larger than females. Keel-Billed Toucans have predominantly black bodies, with yellow chests. Their bill comes in a dazzling array of greens, blues, oranges, and reds.

The bill of the Keel-Billed Toucan is actually not at all heavy. It is in fact made from spongy, hollow bone that is covered in keratin, which itself is very lightweight. Their bills have very tiny ridges on the sides, and cover up a long, thin tongue. Keel-Billed Toucans primarily feed on fruit, which is often swallowed whole. The bill allows them to eat some fruits that other birds cannot, as it enables them to cut up the meal into pieces. Theses Toucans also eat insects, eggs, and the fledglings of other birds.

(Image Source)

Keel-Billed Toucans live in small troops of about half a dozen to a dozen birds. They roost and nest in tree cavities, which are often holes created by Woodpeckers. They live in dense forested areas, and have short, wide wings that allow them to move through the trees. Keel-Billed Toucans also have two toes that face forwards, and two backwards, which allow for easier perching and hopping from branch to branch.

Pairs are monogamous, and lay 2-4 eggs per brood, and may produce 2-3 broods per year.

Keel-Billed Toucans are listed as being of Least Concern.