The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a bird of North American old-growth forests, is the subject of intense debate. Officially declared extinct by some yet persistently sought by others, its existence is a modern mystery. Central to this are its unique vocalizations, sounds that have not been definitively recorded in decades and drive the search for what may or may not be there.
Characteristics of the Call
The primary vocalization of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is a distinctive, nasal call, transcribed as “kent” or “pait.” Observers historically described this sound as resembling a toy trumpet or a tin horn. The call was not considered particularly loud and was audible from a quarter-mile away at most. These calls could be uttered as single notes, in pairs, or in a series of three, as documented near a nest in 1935.
Beyond its vocal call, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker produced a non-vocal sound through its drumming. This was not the rolling drum common to many woodpeckers, but a sharp, powerful “double-knock.” The sound consisted of two rapid strikes against a tree, with the second note often described as being slightly quieter. This drumming pattern was a method of communication, used to establish territory within the vast bottomland forests it inhabited.
Comparison to the Pileated Woodpecker
A source of confusion in identifying the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is its similarity to the Pileated Woodpecker, but their sounds are markedly different. The Ivory-bill’s single, nasal “kent” call contrasts with the Pileated’s loud, irregular series of “kuk” notes. The Pileated’s call is also louder and more varied than the simple, horn-like toot of the Ivory-bill.
The drumming patterns of the two species are also distinct. The Ivory-bill is known for its signature “double-knock,” while the Pileated Woodpecker produces a longer, rolling series of strikes. This difference is a result of their belonging to different genera; the double-knock is a feature of the Campephilus genus (Ivory-bill), while the Pileated is in the Dryocopus genus. Misidentifying these sounds remains a challenge for researchers.
The Search for Modern Evidence
The last universally accepted sighting of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker was in 1944, with the only scientific audio recordings captured in 1935. For decades, the bird was widely presumed to be extinct. This changed in 2004 when researchers announced the bird’s rediscovery in Arkansas, citing eyewitness sightings, a blurry video, and recordings of what sounded like “kent” calls and double-knocks.
This announcement was met with excitement and skepticism within the scientific community, and the evidence was intensely scrutinized. More recent efforts by groups like Project Principalis have presented new audio and drone footage from Louisiana, suggesting the bird’s persistence. These findings continue to fuel the debate, but a definitive, universally accepted sound recording of a living Ivory-billed Woodpecker remains elusive.