99-01-14, thekaiser at earthlink.net writes:

<< To those going to Oaxaca,
I think Oaxaca is one of the last places the Imperial Woodpecker (a close
kin of the Ivory-Billed) has been seen. You should keep an eye out for them...
PS. Does anyone know of good sources of research on the Imperial Woodpecker?
>>

Unless there is something more current to the contrary, it is my understanding
that the Imperial Woodpecker is presumed extinct having been last reported in
1956. Also, I don't think the Imperial Woodpecker was ever represented in the
avifauna in Oaxaca. Are you possibly confusing the Imperial Woodpecker with
one of the other large Mexican woodpeckers such as the Pale-billed and/or
Linneated? Both of these are widespread and fairly common through parts of
Mexico (including Oaxaca) and Central America. The Imperial Woodpecker was
(formerly) found in the open pine and pine-oak forests of the Sierra Madra
Occidental highlands (1800-3000m) from Chihauhua to Northern Jalisco and in
the western mountains of the central volcanic belt from Jalisco to Michoacan
The current field guide 'bible' for birding Mexico is Howell & Webb, wherein
the only reference to the Imperial Woodpecker cited is that by:
Tanner, J.T. (1964). The decline and present status of the Imperial Wodpecker
in Mexico. Auk, 81, 74-81.

Richard Rowlett (Pterodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
(Seattle/Bellevue, WA, USA)