Facts about Red Cockaded Woodpecker Habitat

1. 05

   Foraging red-cockaded woodpecker habitat typically requires a minimum cluster of several cavity trees surrounded by hundreds of acres of suitable pine forest.

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2. 04

   Southeastern coastal plain states like North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia host the majority of remaining red-cockaded woodpecker habitat on national forests and military installations.

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3. 03

   Suitable red-cockaded woodpecker habitat requires pine trees typically 80 to 120 years old or older, as the birds prefer trees old enough to develop the heartwood decay needed for cavity excavation.

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4. 02

   A key feature of red-cockaded woodpecker habitat is the open, parklike understory maintained by frequent fire, which prevents hardwood encroachment into pine stands.

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5. 01

   The red-cockaded woodpecker habitat is restricted to mature longleaf pine forests, where the birds excavate cavities exclusively in living pine trees.

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