Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassification of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker From Endangered to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule

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We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or USFWS), are reclassifying the red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates (= Picoides) borealis) from endangered to threatened (i.e., downlisting it) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This action is based on our evaluation of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the species' status has improved such that it is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, but that it is still likely to become so in the foreseeable future. We also finalize protective regulations under the authority of section 4(d) of the Act that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the red-cockaded woodpecker. In addition, we correct the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife to reflect that Picoides is not the current scientifically accepted generic name for this species.