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| The lower half of the back of an ivorybill woodpecker is white (It's the folded secondary feathers along the trailing edges of the wings.) |
Woodpeckers are intense excavators of dead wood as Rex Daniel found out.
Rex, part-time Ijams staffer and photographer, took this excellent video of a pileated woodpecker working on one of the split-rail fences at the nature center.
Rex, part-time Ijams staffer and photographer, took this excellent video of a pileated woodpecker working on one of the split-rail fences at the nature center.
A lot of people locally call to tell me they have an ivory-billed woodpecker in their backyard.
"Are you sure? What color is its back?" I ask.
"It's black."
"Well, that's a pileated woodpecker, still a wondrous bird to see."
Historically, the ivorybill, largest woodpecker that ever lived in the U.S., was never in this part of the state: floodplain along the Mississippi River, yes; Tennessee Valley, no.
If this video had been of an ivorybill, the lower half of its back would be white, not black.
"Well, that's a pileated woodpecker, still a wondrous bird to see."
Historically, the ivorybill, largest woodpecker that ever lived in the U.S., was never in this part of the state: floodplain along the Mississippi River, yes; Tennessee Valley, no.
If this video had been of an ivorybill, the lower half of its back would be white, not black.
- Video by Rex McDaniel. Thanks!
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1 comment:
I would be so thrilled to see a Pileated....have never seen one. I wish more people were aware of how rare Ivory-bills have been for so long, and probably no longer with us....if I saw an Ivory-bill I wouldn't casually comment on it....you could probably hear me back here in AZ from Mississippi or Arkansas when I made the sighting! :-)
By the way, I have a book order headed your way....the one I mentioned to you a couple of months ago for my sister. Check is enclosed. Thanks in advance!!!!
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