Red-cockaded Woodpecker
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Wildlife Highlight: Red-cockaded Woodpecker
These relatively small woodpeckers only live in old-growth pine forests
where they usually make their nests in longleaf pine infected with red
heart disease. On Babcock-Webb, red-cockaded woodpeckers nest in slash
pine. A "cockade" is a small ornament worn on a hat. In the case of
the red-cockaded woodpecker, the cockade is a small red spot behind
the eyes of the male. The cockade is only visible during courtship and
aggressive displays. The red-cockaded woodpecker is best identified
by its black and white striped back and large patches of white on its
cheeks. They live in small family groups called clans where all individuals
help feed the nestlings.
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