Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Found in the southeastern United States, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker is best recognized for its black cap and nape that encircle large white patches on its cheeks. It is a highly territorial, nonmigratory bird and tends to have the same mate for several years. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker feeds primarily on ants, beetles, cockroaches and wood-boring insects and their main predator is the rat snake.

This species makes its home in fire-sustained pine savannas, especially longleaf pines. Unique from other woodpeckers, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers tend to favor cavities in living trees, particularly pine trees over 80 years old that suffer from a fungus called red heart rot that causes the inner wood to become soft. Many other birds and small mammals make use of the cavities crafted by the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, highlighting its key role within southern pine forests.