Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratusOrder: PICIFORMESFamily: Woodpeckers (Picidae)

Bird database and its related content, illustrations and media is Copyright © 2002 - 2007 Whatbird.com
All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced without written permission from Mitch Waite Group.
Privacy Policy.

Percevia® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker: Medium woodpecker, black-barred brown back, white rump, black tail. Underparts are black-spotted pale brown with black crescent on breast. Face is gray with brown crown and forehead. Legs and feet are gray. There is a Red-shafted (shown here) and a Yellow-shafted race.

● Song: "flicker", "wicka-wicka-wicka", "kleeer"

● Foraging & Feeding: Northern Flicker: Diet consists primarily of ants; also eats other insects, berries, and fruits; forages in trees, shrubs, and on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Northern Flicker: Three to twelve white eggs are laid in a cavity in a tree, utility pole, or birdhouse; usually excavates nest cavities in dead or diseased tree trunks or large branches. Incubation ranges from 11 to 16 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Northern Flicker: Gilded Flicker has red moustache stripe, yellow underwings, and black-spotted underparts.

Flight Pattern

Several rapid wing beats and then a pause with wings folded atsides producing up-and-down flight pattern.

● Range & Habitat: Northern Flicker: Resident from Alaska east through Manitoba to Newfoundland and south throughout the U.S. Northernmost birds are migratory. Prefers forest edges and open woodlands approaching savannas.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^Population

^MigrationSome migrate

^Weight2.5 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America