The Northern Flicker is a species of woodpecker found across much of North America. There are two living subspecies: the yellow-shafted and the red-shafted. Yellow-shafted flickers show yellow under the tail and wings; these are found in the eastern part of the range. Red-shafted flickers are found in the west and show red under the tail and wings. These subspecies have been considered completely separate species in the past. The closely related Gilded Flicker was formerly also considered to be the same species as the Northern Flicker.
Northern Flickers are often found feeding on the ground -- unusual for a woodpecker. They like to eat ants and other insects which they may forage by probing the earth with their beaks.
2015 Bonanza Bird #10: Northern Flicker
Today our Birdorable Bonanza: 2015 Advent Edition continues with a New World woodpecker: the Northern Flicker!
The Northern Flicker is a fairly common and widespread species across its range and can be found ... more
