Red-cockaded woodpecker
Picoides borealis
 
ITIS Species Code:   178257         NatureServ Element Code:   ABNYF07060
 
Taxa: 
Order: 
Family: 
Aves
Piciformes
Picidae
NatureServe Global Rank: 
NatureServe State (NC) Rank: 
 
G3
S2
 
Federal Status: 
NC State Status: 
 
LE
E
 
 
PARTNERS IN FLIGHT PRIORITY SCORES:
Southern Blue Ridge:  28 Southern Piedmont:  n/a South Atl. Coastal Plain:  29
 
HEXAGONAL KNOWN RANGE:PREDICTED DISTRIBUTION:
 
SUMMARY OF STATEWIDE PREDICTED DISTRIBUTION:
 
Land Unit

US Fish & Wildlife Service
US Forest Service
US National Park Service
US Department of Defense
NC State Parks
NC University System
NC Wildlife Res. Com.
NC Forest Service
NC Div. of Coastal Mgmt.
Local Governments
Non-Governmental Org.
Other Public Lands
Private Lands

GAP Status 1-2
All Protected Lands
Statewide
 
Hectares

43,810.02
42,944.85
84,477.15
15.21
2,625.75
16,806.51
54,661.77
7,339.41
1,467.45
205.20
7,082.46
99.99
637,451.46

101,193.03
260,882.82
898,987.23
 
Acres

108,256.90
106,119.01
208,747.54
37.58
6,488.37
41,529.78
135,072.15
18,136.07
3,626.15
507.06
17,501.14
247.08
1,575,176.56

250,053.37
644,655.36
2,221,445.39
% of Dist. on
Prot. Lands

16.8 %
16.5 %
32.4 %
< 0.1 %
1.0 %
6.4 %
20.7 %
2.8 %
0.6 %
2.7 %
2.7 %
< 0.1 %
< 0.1 %

38.8 %
-----   
-----   
% of Dist. on
All Lands

4.9 %
4.8 %
9.4 %
< 0.1 %
0.3 %
1.9 %
6.1 %
0.8 %
0.2 %
< 0.1 %
0.8 %
< 0.1 %
70.9 %

11.3 %
-----   
-----   
 
HABITAT DESCRIPTION:
Fairly common to rare from the coast to the eastern piedmont, as well as at the Pee Dee Refuge (Anson County), Uwharrie National Forest (Montgomery County), in northern Wake County and west Northampton County (Potter et al. 1980).

In North Carolina, restricted to southern pine forests. Open, park like pine savanna with little hardwood understory is preferred, such as that maintained by fire. Fire during the growing season is recognized as a key factor in sustaining habitat (SNN 1990). The species' dependence on specific habitats cannot be overemphasized, nor can its need for old trees.

A strong preference for living pines as foraging substrate has been demonstrated, but their most striking habitat requirement is that of mature living pines for cavity excavation. Trees infected with red heart fungus are often selected, presumably because excavation is easier if the heartwood is rotten, and these are usually the oldest trees in the forest. Longleaf cavity trees usually average around 100 yrs. of age, but, in the NC Sandhills, where older trees exist , many cavity trees are more than 200 years old. Similar ages have been reported for shortleaf and pond pine, whereas cavity trees average about 20 yrs. younger in the faster growing slash and loblolly pines. They have consistently shown a preference for the oldest trees available in both foraging and cavity excavation, but because old-growth pine is so uncommon in the south today, it has not been possible to determine the ideal age of trees or habitat. Digs nest hole in large living pines afflicted with red-heart fungus (PHELLINUS PINI) disease (Hooper et al. 1991); also may use fast-growing longleaf pines with sound heartwood. Nests mostly 3-12 m above ground. Cavity trees tend to be aggregated. Old trees (more than 95 years for longleaf pine and more than 75 years for other species) are most suitable for nesting (Hooper 1988).

NATURE SERVE GLOBAL HABITAT COMMENTS:

Open mature pine woodland, rarely in deciduous woodland near pine or in mixed woodland. However, in Kentucky, basal area of active colonies was 48% pine and 52% nonpine (chiefly oak); hardwood abundance (88% of total stems) was much higher than recorded in habitat elsewhere (Kalisz and Boettcher 1991). Generally prefers open parklike habitat such as that maintained by fire. Primary habitat longleaf pine, also shortleaf and loblolly pine in many areas. Fire during the growing season is recognized as a key factor in sustaining habitat (SNN 1990). Encroachment of hardwood midstory negatively impacts habitat. In eastern Texas, loss of forest habitat and fragmentation negatively affected woodpecker group size in small populations that had relatively isolated clusters of cavity trees, apparently by causing an insufficiency of foraging habitat and dispersal-demographic problems (Conner and Rudolph 1991, which see for contrasting results from another study).

NATURE SERVE STATE HABITAT COMMENTS:

Restricted to southern pine forests. The largest populations are found in longleaf pine, although loblolly pine, short leaf pine, pond pine, slash pine, and rarely Virginia pine and pitch pine are also used. Open, park like pine savanna with little hardwood understory is preferred. A strong preference for living pines as foraging substrate has been demonstrated, but their most striking habitat requirement is that of mature living pines for cavity excavation. Trees infected with red heart fungus are often selected, presumably because excavation is easier if the heartwood is rotten, and these are usually the oldest trees in the forest. Longleaf cavity trees usually average around 100 yrs. of age. but where even older trees exist in the NC Sandhills, many cavity trees are more than 200 years old. Similar ages have been reported for shortleaf and pond pine, whereas cavity trees average about 20 yrs. younger in the faster growing slash and loblolly pines. The species' dependence on specific habitats cannot be overemphasized, nor can its need for old trees. They have consistently shown a preference for the oldest trees available in both foraging and cavity excavation, but because old-growth pine is so uncommon in the south today, it has not been possible to determine the ideal age of trees or habitat.

REPRODUCTIVE HABITAT COMMENTS:

Digs nest hole in large living pines afflicted with red-heart fungus (PHELLINUS PINI) disease (Hooper et al. 1991); also may use fast-growing longleaf pines with sound heartwood. Nests mostly 3-12 m above ground. Cavity trees tend to be aggregated. Old trees (more than 95 years for longleaf pine and more than 75 years for other species) are most suitable for nesting (Hooper 1988). Presence of red-heart is crucial to nesting habitat (SNN 1990). Cavities take several months or years to complete. In eastern Texas, bark beetles (54%), wind snap (30%), and fire (7%) were the major causes of cavity tree mortality; in Angelina National Forest, cavity enlargement by pileated woodpeckers was a significant factor in cavity loss for red-cockaded woodpeckers (Conner et al. 1991). In Texas, preferentially selected the oldest trees for cavity excavation; the current average age of cavity trees (85-130 years) may not provide optimum conditions (optimum may be represented by older trees that are not yet available) (Rudolph and Conner 1991); older/larger trees allow placement of cavities at a greater height, which reduces predation, fire damage, and girdling damage by woodpeckers.

 
MODELING DESCRIPTION:
Occupied Landcover Map Units:
Code NameDescription NC Natural Heritage Program Equivalent
87 Pocosin Woodlands and Shrublands Includes pond pine woodland, low pocosin and high pocosin shrub dominated areas. Canebrakes and bay forests may be present. Pond Pine Woodlands, Peatland Canebrake, Small Depression Pocosin
67 Wet Longleaf or Slash Pine Savanna Wet flatwoods and pine savannas, typically dominated by longleaf pines, but slash or pond pines may be the dominant pines. Wet Pine Flatwoods
97 Mesic Longleaf Pine Longleaf pine woodlands without a major scrub oak component. Slash or loblolly pines may be present as well. Mesic Pine Flatwoods
42 Xeric Longleaf Pine Sandhills including a range of longleaf pine density from predominantly wiregrass, scrub oak dominated to true longleaf pine woodland. This does not include mesic or saturated flatwood types. Xeric Sandhill Scrub, Pine/Scrub Oak Sandhill, Coastal Fringe Sandhill
46 Xeric Oak - Pine Forests Mixed forest dominated by yellow pines with white or northern red oaks co-dominating. Pine Oak Heath
232 Xeric Pine-Hardwood Woodlands and Forests Mixed forest dominated by yellow pines with drier oaks including southern red, post, and chestnut oaks. Dry Oak Hickory Forest
220 Piedmont Xeric Pine Forests Dry to xeric pine forests dominated by Virginia pine, shortleaf pine or Eastern Red Cedar. Pine Oak Heath
View Entire Landcover Legend
 
Additional Spatial Constraints:
Exclude all area outside of known range.
 
CITATIONS:
Mengel, R. M., and J. A. Jackson. 1977. Geographic variation of the red-cockaded woodpecker. Condor 79:349-355.

Hagan, J. M., and J. M. Reed. 1988. Red color bands reduce fledging success in red-cockaded woodpecker. Auk 105:498-503.

Hooper, R. G. 1988. Longleaf pines used for cavities by red-cockaded woodpeckers. J. Wildlife Management 52:392-398.

Lennartz, M. R. 1988. The red-cockaded woodpecker:old-growth species in a second-growth landscape. Natural Areas J. 8:160-165.

Ortego, B., and D. Lay. 1988. Status of red-cockaded woodpecker colonies on private land in east Texas. Wildlife Society Bull. 16:403-405.

Roise, J., et al. 1990. Red-cockaded woodpecker habitat and timber management:production possibilities. South. J. Appl. For. 14:6-12.

Rudolph, D. C., R. N. Conner, and J. Turner. 1990. Competition for red-cockaded woodpecker roost and nest cavities:effects of resin age and entrance diameter. Wilson Bull. 102:23-36.

Rudloph, D. H., H. Kyle, and R. N. Conner. 1990. Red-cockaded woodpeckers vs rat snakes:the effectiveness of the resin barrier. Wilson Bull. 102:14-22.

SNN 1990. (Unknown citation).

Walters, J. R. 1990. The red-cockaded woodpecker:a "primitive cooperative breeder." In P. B. Stacey and W. D. Koenig, eds. Cooperative breeding in birds:long-term studies of ecology and behavior. Cambridge Univ. Press.

American Ornithologists' Union Committee for the Conservation of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. 1991. The conservation crisis. The red-cockaded woodpecker:on the road to oblivion? Auk 108:200-213.

Haig, S. M., J. R. Belthoff, and D. H. Allen. 1993. Examination of population structure in red-cockaded woodpeckers using DNA profiles. Evolution 47:185-194.

Neal, J. C., et al. 1993. Effects of weather and helpers on survival of nestling red-cockaded woodpeckers. Wilson Bull. 105:666-673.

Reed, J. M., et al. 1993. Effective population size in red-cockaded woodpeckers:population and model differences. Conservation Biology 7:302-.

Conner, R. N., and D. C. Rudolph. 1995. Losses of red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees to southern pine beetles. Wilson Bulletin 107:81-92.

Hanula, J. L., and K. E. Franzreb. 1995. Arthropod prey of nestling red-cockaded woodpeckers in the upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Wilson Bulletin 107:485-495.

Bent, A.C. 1942. Life histories of North American flycatchers, larks, swallows, and their allies. U.S. National Museum Bulletin 179. Washington, DC.

Department of Defense. 1991. Proceedings of the Department of Defense red-cockaded woodpecker workshop, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 3-5 April 1991. 123 pp.

Marion, W. R., and B. W. Hagedorn, compilers. 1991. A literature reference guide for the red-cockaded woodpecker. Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program. 105 pp.

Collar, N. J., et al. 1992. Threatened Birds of the Americas. The ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. Third Edition. Part 2. Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington, D.C.

Ehrlich, P.R., D.S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1992. Birds in jeopardy:the imperiled and extinct birds of the United States and Canada, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 259 pp.

McFarlane, R. W. 1992. A stillness in the pines:the ecology of the red-cockaded woodpecker. W. W. Norton and Company, New York. 270 pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 19 October 1989. Remarkable survival of endangered species reported; hurricane's impact on habitat extensive. News Release.

Stevens, E. E. 1992. Population dynamics of red-cockaded woodpeckers in the Georgia Piedmont. Abstract, 6th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, p. 120.

Rudolph, D. C., et al. 1992. Experimental reintroduction of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Auk 109:914-916.

Kelly, J. F., S. M. Pletschet, and D. M. Leslie, Jr. 1994. Decline of the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) in southeastern Oklahoma. American Midland Naturalist 132:275-283.

LaBranche, M. S., and J. R. Walters. 1994. Patterns of mortality in nests of red-cockaded woodpeckers in the sandhills of southcentral North Carolina. Wilson Bull. 106:258-271.

LaBranche, M. S., J. R. Walters, and K. S. Laves. 1994. Double-brooding in red-cockaded woodpeckers. Wilson Bull. 106:403-408.

Rossell, C. R., Jr., and J. J. Britcher. 1994. Evidence of plural breeding by red-cockaded woodpeckers. Wilson Bull. 106:557-559.

Stangel, P. W., M. R. Lennartz, and M. H. Smith. 1992. Genetic variation and population structure of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Conservation Biology 6:283-292.

Walters, J. R., C. K. Copeyon, and J. H. Carter, III. 1992. Test of the ecological basis of cooperative breeding in red-cockaded woodpeckers. Auk 109:90-97.

Thomlinson, J. R. 1995. Landscape characteristics associated with active and abandoned red-cockaded woodpecker clusters in east Texas. Wilson Bulletin 107:603-614.

Southeast Negotiation Network, Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta. 1990. Summary report:scientific summit on the red-cockaded woodpecker.

Reed, J. M., P. D. Doerr, and J. R. Walters. 1988. Minimum viable population size of the red-cockaded woodpecker. J. Wildlife Management 52:385-391.

Reeds, J. M., et al. 1988. An evaluation of indices of red-cockaded woodpecker populations. Wildlife Society Bull. 16:4-6-410.

Campbell, L. 1995. Endangered and Threatened Animals of Texas:Their Life History and Management. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Endangered Resources Branch, Austin, Texas. ix + 129 pp.

Carter, J. H., III, et al. 1989. Restrictors for red-cockaded woodpecker cavities. Wildlife Society Bull. 17:68-72.

Masters, R. E., J. E. Skeen, and J. A. Garner. 1989. Red-cockaded woodpecker in Oklahoma:an update of Wood's 1974-1977 study. Proceedings Oklahoma Academy Science 69:27-31.

Copeyon, C. K. 1990. A technique for constructing cavities for the the red-cockaded woodpecker. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 18:303-311.

Engstrom, R. T., and G. W. Evans. 1990. Hurricane damage to red-cockaded woodpecker (PICOIDES BOREALIS) cavity trees. Auk 107:608-610.

Harlow, R. F., and A. T. Doyle. 1990. Food habits of southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) collected from red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) colonies in South Carolina. American Midland Naturalist 124:187-191.

Jackson, J. A. 1990. Intercolony movements of red-cockaded woodpeckers in South Carolina. J. Field Ornithology 61:149-155.

Thompson, R.L., ed. 1971. The ecology and management of the red-cockaded woodpecker. USDI, Bureau of Fisheries and Wildlife, and Tall Timbers Research Station. 188 pp.

Harrison, C. 1978. A field guide to the nests, eggs and nestlings of North American birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.

Harrison, H.H. 1979. A field guide to western birds' nests. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 279 pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1980. Selected vertebrate endangered species of the seacoast of the United Sates-- the red-cockaded woodpecker. FWS/OBS-80/01.7. 9 pp.

Potter, E. F., J. F. Parnell, and R. P. Teulings. 1980. Birds of the Carolinas. Univ. North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. 408 pp.

Terres, J.K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

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Ligon, J. D., et al. 1986. Report of the American Ornithologists' Union Committee for the Conservation of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Auk 103:848-855.

Porter, M. L., and R. F. Labisky. 1986. Home range and foraging habitat of red-cockaded woodpeckers in northern Florida. J. Wildlife Management 50:239-247.

Lennartz, M. R., and V. G. Henry. 1985. Red-cockaded woodpecker recovery plan (revision). U.S. Fish and Wildife Service. 92 pp.

Eddleman, W. R., and R. L. Clawson. 1987. Population status and habitat conditions for the red-cockaded woodpecker in Missouri. Trans. Missouri Acad. Sci. 21:105-117.

Byrd, M.A., and D.W. Johnston. 1991. Birds. Pages 477-537 in K. Terwilliger, coordinator. Virginia's endangered species:proceedings of a symposium. McDonald and Woodward Publ. Co., Blacksburg, Virginia.

Conner, R. N., A. E. Snow, and K. A. O'Halloran. 1991. Red-cockaded woodpecker use of seed-tree/shelterwood cuts in eastern Texas. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 19:67-73.

Conner, R. N., and D. C. Rudolph. 1991. Effects of midstory reduction and thinning in red-cockaded woodpecker cavity tree clusters. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 19:63-66.

Conner, R. N., et al. 1991. Causes of mortality of red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees. J. Wildlife Management 55:531-537.

Conner, R. N., and D. C. Rudolph. 1991. Forest habitat loss, fragmentation, and red-cockaded woodpecker populations. Wilson Bull. 103:446-457.

Copeyon, C. K., J. R. Walters, and J. H. Carter, III. 1991. Induction of red-cockaded woodpecker group formation by artificial cavity construction. J. Wildlife Management 55:549-556.

Conner, R. N., and D. C. Rudolph. 1989. Red-cockaded woodpecker colony status and trends on the Angelina, Davy Crockett and Sabine national forests (east. Texas). U. S. Forest Service Research Paper S)-250. 15 pp.

Hooper, R. G., and H. D. Muse. 1989. Sequentially observed periodic surveys of management compartments to monitor red-cockaded woodpeckers. U.S. Forest Service Research Paper SE-276. 13 pp.

Hooper, R. G., D. L. Krusac, and D. L. Carlson. 1991. An increase in a population of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Wildlife Society Bull. 19:277-286.

Hooper, R. G., M. R. Lennartz, and H. D. Muse. 1991. Heart rot and cavity tree selection by red-cockaded woodpeckers. J. Wildlife Management 55:323-327.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Endangered and threatened species recovery program:report to Congress. 406 pp.

Matthews, J. R., and C. J. Moseley (editors). 1990. The Official World Wildlife Fund Guide to Endangered Species of North America. Volume 1. Plants, Mammals. xxiii + pp 1-560 + 33 pp. appendix + 6 pp. glossary + 16 pp. index. Volume 2. Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians.

James, F. C. 1991. Signs of trouble in the largest remaining population of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Auk 108:419-423.

Kalisz, P. J., and S. E. Boettcher. 1991. Active and abandoned red-cockaded woodpecker habitat in Kentucky. J. Wildlife Management 55:146-154.

DeLotelle, R. S., and R. J. Epting. 1992. Reproduction of the red-cockaded woodpecker in central Florida. Wilson Bull. 104:285-294.

Repasky, R. R., R. J. Blue, and P. D. Doerr. 1991. Laying red-cockaded woodpeckers cache bone fragments. Condor 93:458-461.

Reparsky, R. R., and P. D. Doerr. 1991. Home range and substrate use by two family groups of red-cockaded woodpeckers in the North Carolina sandhills. Brimleyana 17:37-52.

Rudolph, D. C., and R. N. Conner. 1991. Cavity tree selection by red-cockaded woodpeckers in relation to tree age. Wilson Bull. 103:458-467.

Walters, J. R. 1991. Application of ecological principles to the management of endangered species:the case of the red-cockaded woodpecker. Annual Rev. Ecol. Syst. 22:505-523.

10 March 2005
 
This data was compiled and/or developed by the North Carolina GAP Analysis Project.

For more information please contact them at:
NC-GAP Analysis Project
Dept. of Zoology, NCSU
Campus Box 7617
Raleigh, NC 27695-7617
(919) 513-2853
www.basic.ncsu.edu/ncgap