Head to head
Ivory-billed Woodpecker vs Magellanic Woodpecker
The ivory-billed woodpecker and Magellanic woodpecker belong to the same genus of unusually large woodpeckers, but one has vanished while the other still drums through its native forest.
| Ivory-billed Woodpecker | Magellanic Woodpecker | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Campephilus principalis | Campephilus magellanicus |
| Status | Critically Endangered, possibly extinct | Near Threatened |
| Native range | Southeastern US, Cuba | Southern Chile and Argentina |
| Wild status | Not confirmed since the 1940s | Still present in the wild |
| Habitat | Old-growth swamp forest | Old-growth Patagonian forest |
| Male head colour | Distinctive crest | Full red head and crest |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Habitat type | Forest | Forest |
Ivory-billed Woodpecker vs Magellanic Woodpecker: common questions
Is the Magellanic woodpecker the last of its kind, like the ivory-billed woodpecker may be?
The Magellanic woodpecker is the last surviving member of the genus shared with the ivory-billed woodpecker and the extinct imperial woodpecker, though the Magellanic woodpecker itself still survives in the wild, unlike its possibly extinct or confirmed extinct relatives.
Do the ivory-billed woodpecker and Magellanic woodpecker share the same range?
No, the ivory-billed woodpecker was historically found in the southeastern United States and Cuba, while the Magellanic woodpecker is native to southern Chile and Argentina, so the two closely related giants never naturally overlapped.
Why is the Magellanic woodpecker also at risk despite still being alive?
This species is classified as Near Threatened due to the loss of old-growth Patagonian forest, a similar underlying threat of habitat loss to the one that likely drove the ivory-billed woodpecker to the edge of extinction.