Northern Flickers can be attracted to your
backyard with suet feeders, water and a few trees and shrubs.
The Downy is the most common woodpecker to visit back yards,
Flickers run a close second.
Identification and Pictures
(Colaptes auratus)
There are two types; both are 12 to 14
inches. The Yellow-shafted Flicker has white under parts with
dark spots, a black patch across the upper chest and a red
patch on the nape.
Although there are two main types there is
cross breeding resulting in variations.
Males have a black patch or mustache
starting just below the bill and moving backward on the neck.
The under part of the wings and tail are golden and flash
when they fly overhead with its undulating flight. Just like
most woodpeckers they rise with a couple wing beats then
close their wings and fall. This repeated action causes the
undulating flight we see.
The Red Shafted Flicker looks the same but salmon red
replaces the under part of the wings and tail. They do not
have the red patch on the nape and the patch on the neck is
red instead of black. There are of course overlaps in their
territories where they interbreed.
Like all woodpeckers they have heavy
sharp bills and thick neck muscles for hammering on trees
and getting beneath the bark for insects. They also have
sharp curved claws for cling to trees.
Flickers or Yellowhammers as they are also
called are the Alabama state bird.
Song and Calls
The song is a loud wick wick wick, ki-ki-ki.
During aggression and courtship a loud flick-a flicka is
heard. Flickers also drum on resonant wood.
Note on some browsers you will not be able to see or use the
drop down sound list. If you can't use it try the sound
links below.
Breeding season can be from March to July
depending on the area.
Breeding is in open areas with scattered trees. The male
chooses the nest site and both birds excavate the cavity,
with him doing most of the work. The nest hole will be in a
tree truck, stump, pole, wooden building and occasionally
even in the ground. They will use nest-boxes. The nest
entrance is around 4 inches and the cavity is usually 10 to
18 inches deep. photo by Keith Lee, my preferred
camera is the Canon
EOS Digital Rebel camera.
There are usually 6 to 8 smooth, glossy white eggs incubated
by both birds. They will only have one clutch but will
replace it if lost. The eggs will hatch in just less than two
weeks and both adults will tend the young. The young birds
will climb to the entrance in about 18 days and may leave the
nest in 25 to 30 days.
Food and Feeding
Natural foods are insects such as ants,
beetles and larvae. It has the bill for digging these out of
wood, but will also be seen hopping around on the ground
looking for insects.
Flickers also eat fruits, seeds and nuts,
which they will store for the winter. They will come to your
yard for suet feeders. They will also come for black oil
sunflower seeds, Mealworms and other foods.
At right is
a suet feeder on a post.
Of course the Flicker may have to share with
other birds that are attracted to suet like...
Northern Flicker
has the bill for digging these out of
wood, but will also be seen hopping around on the ground
looking for insects.
Woodpecker posters
