For Immediate Release Media Contact: Greg Borzo 312/665-7106; gborzo@fieldmuseum.org General Information: 312/922-9410; www.fieldmuseum.org Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers on Display at The Field Museum Come see specimens of the regal, ivory-billed woodpecker, which birdwatchers describe as their “holy grail” and has recently been rediscovered after long given up as extinct. What: Scientists will show several specimens of the magnificent ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) and tell how the species was recently rediscovered living in a forest in Arkansas. Two Field Museum scientists participated in the unprecedented, secret search for the reclusive bird that began last year after one bird was sighted. The last verified sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker occurred in 1944, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president. Scientists will show many other species of birds thought to be extinct, including the passenger pigeon, Carolina parakeet, and Bachman’s warbler. Also, they will explain the process of extinction: the different ways plant and animal species become endangered and ultimately disappear from the face of the earth. The regal ivory-billed woodpecker, at about 20-inches long with a wingspan of about 30 inches, is the largest woodpecker in the United States. It uses its stout, chisel-like bill to cut away bark and expose insects, which it then eats with its long tongue. Its foot is specially adapted to climbing, with two forward and two backward toes. The adult male has a bright red crest on the top of its head. When: Every Saturday and Sunday from April 30 to May 22, inclusive, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Where: The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., in Stanley Field Hall, main floor. The display is free with museum admission. The Field Museum is located at 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive. Heated, indoor parking is available at Soldier Field, steps from the Museum’s south entrance. Early bird rates apply if you arrive before 9:30 a.m. <<Back to the Press Room