The red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) is a small woodpecker that is endemic to the pine forests of the southeastern United States. This unique bird has been declining in numbers for decades and is currently classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The red-cockaded woodpecker is considered one of the rarest woodpeckers in North America due to its highly specific habitat requirements and troubled conservation status.
Overview of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
The red-cockaded woodpecker is a small black and white woodpecker that reaches about 7-9 inches in length with a wingspan of 13-16 inches. The adult has black and white barred plumage on its back and wings, with small white cheek patches and a black cap and nape. The male has a small red streak on each side of its black cap called a cockade, which gives the bird its name. The red cockades are very subtle and hard to see in the field.
This woodpecker’s natural habitat is pine savannas and mature pine forests of the southeastern United States. Its historic range stretched from Florida to Texas, north to Oklahoma, Missouri, and southern portions of Kentucky and Virginia. Today the bird occupies only about 3% of its original habitat range, with small populations scattered around the southeast.
Habitat Requirements
The red-cockaded woodpecker requires a very particular habitat type – open, mature pine forests and woodlands with little understory vegetation. They strongly prefer forests dominated by longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) as well as other southern pines like shortleaf (P. echinata), loblolly (P. taeda), and slash pine (P. elliottii).
The birds excavate cavities for nesting and roosting exclusively in living pine trees. The pines must be older, mature specimens, generally over 60 years old. Younger pines have sap that makes the feathers sticky for these woodpeckers. The older pines are also infected with a heartwood decay fungus called red heart disease that makes excavation easier. The birds peck small holes around the cavity, causing sticky pine resin to run down the trunk. This resin provides protection from snakes and other predators trying to reach nests and roosts.
Endangered Status
The red-cockaded woodpecker was listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1970. Its numbers had been declining since the 1800s due to habitat loss. Clear cutting of southern pine forests drastically reduced its nesting and foraging grounds. Fire suppression also altered its habitat by letting hardwoods fill into open pine savannas.
In more recent decades, its endangered status has prevented logging of older pines and encouraged prescribed burns to restore open, pine-dominated habitats. However, habitat loss and degradation prior to the ESA listing reduced the woodpecker’s population to only 1-3% of its original size. Fragmented populations are now scattered in small, isolated pockets across the southeast.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are currently only about 14,000 red-cockaded woodpeckers left in the wild. The IUCN classifies the species as Vulnerable with a decreasing population trend.
Population Status and Distribution
The red-cockaded woodpecker has declined to an estimated 14,000 individuals across 11 U.S. states. It occupies less than 1% of its original range prior to European settlement. Fragmented populations exist from southern Virginia to eastern Texas. Here is a summary of its status across different parts of its range:
Florida
Florida hosts the largest population with an estimated 5,600-6,400 groups. Most live on federal lands like Apalachicola National Forest and Ocala National Forest. The Ocala National Forest population is considered one of the most stable.
North and South Carolina
North and South Carolina have an estimated 1,800 groups total. Significant populations occur at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Francis Marion National Forest.
Georgia
Georgia contains about 1,800-2,000 groups, primarily at Fort Stewart Military Reservation and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Alabama
Alabama holds nearly 1,300 groups at sites like Conecuh National Forest. The state has some of the best remaining habitat for the species.
Mississippi
Mississippi is estimated to support over 700 groups on sites like De Soto National Forest.
Louisiana
Louisiana has around 500 groups scattered across Kisatchie National Forest.
Texas
Texas contains approximately 500 groups, mostly on federal and state forest lands.
Virginia
Only 35 groups remain in Virginia, mostly on Piney Grove Preserve and in the Great Dismal Swamp.
State | Estimated Population |
---|---|
Florida | 5,600-6,400 groups |
North Carolina | 900 groups |
South Carolina | 900 groups |
Georgia | 1,800-2,000 groups |
Alabama | 1,300 groups |
Mississippi | Over 700 groups |
Louisiana | 500 groups |
Texas | 500 groups |
Virginia | 35 groups |
Population Trends
The red-cockaded woodpecker has experienced severe population declines since pre-colonial times. However, conservation efforts over the past few decades have helped stabilize and even increase some populations.
Historic Declines
Prior to European settlement, the red-cockaded woodpecker population is estimated to have been over 1 million groups across about 60 million acres of longleaf pine habitat. The clearing of southeastern forests caused an initial population crash. By the 1940s when the first range-wide surveys were conducted, the population was down to just 10,000 groups. This represents a 99% decline from historic levels.
Mid-1900s
Habitat loss continued through the mid-1900s as remaining mature pine forests were extensively logged. In the 1970s when the woodpecker was listed as endangered, the population hit a record low of only 1,470 active groups. This represents a greater than 99% reduction compared to pre-settlement population size.
Recent Trends
Since the Endangered Species Act protection and management efforts began, some red-cockaded woodpecker populations have stabilized or grown slightly. However, the overall population is still only about 1-3% of its historic size. From 1998-2015, increases were detected, especially on protected federal lands.
For example, one of the strongest populations at Apalachicola National Forest in Florida grew from 77 groups in 1998 to 329 groups in 2015. Other sites like De Soto National Forest and Piney Grove Preserve saw growth from 115 to 180 groups and 6 to 35 groups, respectively.
However, not all populations increased. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge population declined from 590 to 474 groups over the same time period. Fragmented, isolated populations outside of protected areas also generally continue to decline.
Future Outlook
The future outlook for the red-cockaded woodpecker depends on conservation and management of remaining pine savanna habitat. Biologists consider a population of over 350 clusters sustainable. Many federal lands now support viable cluster sizes. Continued prescribed burning and habitat restoration on public and private lands should help stabilize populations. However, loss of isolated, small populations may continue.
Rarity and Threats
The red-cockaded woodpecker is one of the rarest woodpeckers in North America. Several key factors contributed to its decline over the past centuries to its extremely low population today:
Habitat Loss
The main threat to the red-cockaded woodpecker is loss of appropriate pine savanna habitat. Fire suppression and logging of older pines greatly reduced its nesting and foraging grounds. Clearing for agriculture and development also eliminated habitat.
At least 80% of the original longleaf pine ecosystem was cleared over the last 300 years. The woodpecker now only occupies about 1% of its historic range.
Fragmentation
Remaining populations are highly fragmented as habitat loss occurred across the woodpecker’s entire range. Isolated clusters have much higher risks of inbreeding depression and local extirpations. Dispersal between clusters is key for maintaining genetic diversity.
Cavity Competitors
The red-cockaded woodpecker is a weak cavity excavator compared to other woodpeckers. Introduced cavity nesting species like European starlings readily take over the woodpecker’s tree cavities, reducing nesting sites.
Slow Reproduction
The birds do not start breeding until at least 2 years old. Pairs normally raise just one brood per year with 1-4 eggs. The low reproductive rate makes it hard for populations to recover from declines.
Predation and Disease
Major predators at cavity trees include rat snakes, which eat eggs and nestlings. Population stresses also make the birds vulnerable to diseases such as Poxvirus.
Conservation Efforts
Many conservation initiatives aim to protect and restore red-cockaded woodpecker populations:
Habitat Management
Prescribed burning reduces understory vegetation and maintains open pine savannas preferred by the woodpeckers. Controlled burns are now regularly conducted across many protected areas of pine forest habitat. Selective thinning to favor older pines is also used.
Artificial Cavities
Where natural cavities are limited, artificial nest and roost holes are drilled into pines to provide more options. Restrictor plates are installed to keep larger competitors like flying squirrels out.
Translocations
Moving birds between isolated groups helps maintain genetic diversity. Young birds are caught and released into new territories to breed. Over 2,400 red-cockaded woodpeckers were translocated between 1983 and 2012.
Land Protection
Federal and state agencies protect pine forest habitats from logging and development. Private landowners are also encouraged to voluntarily conserve woodpecker habitat through safe harbor agreements.
Public Awareness
Outreach campaigns promote awareness of the woodpecker’s protected status to discourage disturbance of cavities. Landowners learn how to manage properties to benefit the species.
Conclusion
The red-cockaded woodpecker has declined to an extremely small fraction of its original population and range over the past centuries. Habitat loss and fragmentation of southeastern pine forests continue to impact remaining small, isolated populations. However, the woodpecker has likely started to stabilize or increase in some protected areas thanks to habitat management and other conservation measures. Continued efforts focused on prescribed burning, mature pine restoration, and translocations offer hope for recovering sustainable population levels. But the red-cockaded woodpecker remains one of the rarest woodpecker species in North America and faces an uncertain future in many parts of its historic range. The progress on public forest lands displays the potential for the woodpecker to rebound if sufficient habitat can be preserved across fragmented private and state-owned pine savannas as well.