The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Campephilus principalis, is a large woodpecker native to the southeastern United States and Cuba. It features striking black-and-white plumage, a prominent crest, and a white bill. Thought to be extinct, it inhabits dense forests, feeding on beetle larvae and other insects. Its distinctive double-knock drumming and bold markings distinguish it from other woodpecker species.

The Campephilus principalis, commonly known as the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, was historically found in the southeastern United States, particularly in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. There were also populations in the forests of Cuba. However, the species is now considered critically endangered and possibly extinct, with no confirmed sightings in recent years.

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker's typical habitat consisted of dense, old-growth hardwood forests, particularly swampy and bottomland forests. These areas featured large, mature trees which were essential for foraging and nesting. The climate in these regions is warm and humid, with a subtropical climate in the southern parts of its range.

The ecological niche of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker involved foraging for insects, especially beetle larvae, under the bark of large, dead, or dying trees. It played a crucial role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations and contributing to the decomposition process of dead wood, which in turn supported a variety of other species. The species required extensive tracts of uninterrupted forest to thrive, which has been a significant factor in its decline due to habitat destruction.