Birds
Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Description: A small (7 - 8 inches in length) black and white woodpecker, with no visible red. It can be distinguished from other black and white woodpeckers by its large white cheek patch and zebra striped or ladder back. Other small Alabama woodpeckers have either an unstriped white back, a black eyestripe, or red on the head. The red-cockaded is also the only Alabama woodpecker that lives in living pine trees, drilling a round hole approximately 3 inches in diameter through the sapwood and into the heart of the tree. They also peck out sap wells, half-dollar sized wounds which bleed resin onto the tree trunk. 'Me sap encrusted tree stem is often easier to identify than the bird. It can resemble a large wax candle and is easily seen in the open woods the bird usually inhabits. Other woodpeckers and some animals use abandoned red-cockaded dens, but often enlarge the entrance. The sap on active trees is clear or amber in color. That on inactive trees turns a dull gray or has an "icing" like appearance. Red-cockadeds live in small groups in a one to ten acre area called a cluster or colony. They feed by prying off the loose bark and feeding on the mites, insects, and larvae underneath the rather than by drilling into dead trees like other woodpeckers.

Forestry Considerations: Since red-cockadeds require large, old (at least 65 years) pines to nest in, they don't occur in many places. When encountered in forestry activities, a determination should be made by an experienced biologist whether or not the site is actively being used. Den trees and the surrounding area should be left intact until professional advice is obtained. Biologists believe that foraging stands of fairly large pines are necessary for successful management for the woodpecker. Logging or other activity near the den trees during the breeding or brood rearing season may disturb them enough to cause them to abandon the site or to be unsuccessful in raising the young. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and many of the other listed sources in this manual can advise on management when red-cockadeds are present. If there are questions about whether or not the woodpeckers are present or if apparent den trees are active, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Alabama Department of Conservation, or any of the other sources listed in Appendix II at the end of this manual should be consulted.

Distribution by County: Red-cockadeds can occur anywhere in the state where there is old pine timber in open stands. Counties where they are known to occur include Baldwin, Bibb, Butler, Calhoun, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Covington, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Fayette, Hale, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Macon, Marshall, Perry, Pickens, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, and Winston.