Northern Flicker
Description: Although they are a species of woodpecker, Flickers are often seen on the ground and perch unlike other woodpeckers. They are fairly large woodpeckers with a long, slightly curved bill. Under-tail and under-wings are yellow. Both sexes are marked with spots, red on nape and a dark necklace, but the female lacks the black mark at the base of the bill. Yellow is most visible in flight. Flickers have an a white rump patch that is an excellent identification feature especially when the bird is flying away from an observer. Only the Yellow-Shafted form lives in this region. Flickers fly with the classic undulating flight shared by many woodpecker species.
Nest: Cavity dug into a dead or dying tree or branch. No nest materials brought to nest. Will use appropriate sized nest boxes.
Eggs: 5-8 white eggs.
Diet: Insects, especially ants. Also takes beetles, fruit and seeds. They usually forage on the ground pecking at the ground and searching for invertebrate prey. Often forages on roadsides, feeding on the ants that build in the sand there.
Habitat: Open woodlands, meadows, lawns, roadsides and forest edges. They migrate most in April and early May although some individuals seem to stay through the winter.
Nest: Cavity dug into a dead or dying tree or branch. No nest materials brought to nest. Will use appropriate sized nest boxes.
Eggs: 5-8 white eggs.
Diet: Insects, especially ants. Also takes beetles, fruit and seeds. They usually forage on the ground pecking at the ground and searching for invertebrate prey. Often forages on roadsides, feeding on the ants that build in the sand there.
Habitat: Open woodlands, meadows, lawns, roadsides and forest edges. They migrate most in April and early May although some individuals seem to stay through the winter.