"Extinct" Woodpecker Found In Arkansas

Thursday, ornithologists (scientists who studied birds) said that ivory-billed woodpeckers had been spotted several times in Arkansas. Before these sightings, these birds were suspected to be extinct. They had not been seen for 60 years!

These birds were last spotted in Louisiana in 1944 and the recent sightings have been near the same spot in the Big Woods region of Eastern Arkansas.

The ivory-billed woodpecker was once known as the "Lord God" bird. According to scientists, it's because they were so spectacular that when they were seen people would remark, "Lord, God what a bird!"

They have ivory-colored bills, white wing patches and are about 13 inches from wrist to tail. The males have a red crest of feathers on their head.

Unfortunately, I don't have a photograph of one but I did find one so you can see how beautiful these birds are! Arkansas really is the natural state!