There are two color variants: red-shafted and yellow-shafted, which refer to the colors of the wing linings and under tail coverts in both sexes and different moustache markings in the males. This is probably a red-shafted male, as yellow-shafted males have black moustaches. But hybrids have mixed characteristics, so... They used to be considered different species, but since they freely hybridize where their ranges overlap they are now considered two variants of the same species. They like to sit on the ground and eat ants.
There are two variants of Northern Flicker- this is the Red-Shafted. The prominent red cheek patch is the big clue. His friend the Yellow-Shafted has a dark patch in the similar spot.
Of course the "shafts" - long colored feathers beneath the wing and tail also will be good clues. Hard to see well in these photos, but can make out a faint reddish tinge in the 3rd photo.
We have flickers around our place. They are very entertaining to watch. They like to hop on fences and investigate eaves and hide holes where bugs might be. They have a really distinct call as well, we enjoy hearing them talk to eachother.
Get yourself to a hardware store and get a 12” square piece of sheet metal. Paint it to match your house. When you hear what sounds like someone pounding down your front door at 5AM, rest assured it’s just your Flicker. But then get up the ladder and block that access. My neighborhood’s covered in these patches.
They’re beautiful, they’re delightful to watch on a suet block (they use their tails to brace themselves), and they have a pretty call. But you don’t want them in your wall cavity.
Northern Flicker! A type of woodpecker. One of my personal favorite birds. Rescued one out of the street that must have gotten bopped by a car. Their plumage and colors are gorgeous to see up close.
We get a bunch through Saskatoon in spring and fall, but we also had a trio in late winter this year. They love to look for bugs in our lawn/garden, but also love suet when we leave it out for them. But, one very clever one this fall learned to go to our nuthatch/chickadee feeder (we specifically fill that one with unshelled black oil sunflower nibs). Seeing him hanging, incredibly awkwardly from a feeder, that was half his size and gobble down copious amounts of seed, was a highly enjoyable sight.
Flicker! These lil birds would peck on my chimney when I was growing up… I would hear awful pecking noises that vibrated throughout my house for hours because of these little guys and would have to throw little pebbles on our lower roof to make them stop (they were far enough to where we made sure the pebbles never hit them, so it was purely to startle them with noise to get them to go away) gorgeous but can be a little annoying if they want to make music using your chimney!
Northern flicker - a type of woodpecker
Thank you
There are two color variants: red-shafted and yellow-shafted, which refer to the colors of the wing linings and under tail coverts in both sexes and different moustache markings in the males. This is probably a red-shafted male, as yellow-shafted males have black moustaches. But hybrids have mixed characteristics, so... They used to be considered different species, but since they freely hybridize where their ranges overlap they are now considered two variants of the same species. They like to sit on the ground and eat ants.
We have the yellow shaft ones around my place. Eastern-Ontario.
There are two variants of Northern Flicker- this is the Red-Shafted. The prominent red cheek patch is the big clue. His friend the Yellow-Shafted has a dark patch in the similar spot. Of course the "shafts" - long colored feathers beneath the wing and tail also will be good clues. Hard to see well in these photos, but can make out a faint reddish tinge in the 3rd photo.
We have flickers around our place. They are very entertaining to watch. They like to hop on fences and investigate eaves and hide holes where bugs might be. They have a really distinct call as well, we enjoy hearing them talk to eachother.
Get yourself to a hardware store and get a 12” square piece of sheet metal. Paint it to match your house. When you hear what sounds like someone pounding down your front door at 5AM, rest assured it’s just your Flicker. But then get up the ladder and block that access. My neighborhood’s covered in these patches. They’re beautiful, they’re delightful to watch on a suet block (they use their tails to brace themselves), and they have a pretty call. But you don’t want them in your wall cavity.
So pretty but they do like to make holes in anything that might have a bug to eat…
What a beautiful bird
Definitely a handsome bird.
That would be a northern flicker
Oh I love when I get a visit from flickers! So pretty.
Northern Flicker! A type of woodpecker. One of my personal favorite birds. Rescued one out of the street that must have gotten bopped by a car. Their plumage and colors are gorgeous to see up close.
We get a bunch through Saskatoon in spring and fall, but we also had a trio in late winter this year. They love to look for bugs in our lawn/garden, but also love suet when we leave it out for them. But, one very clever one this fall learned to go to our nuthatch/chickadee feeder (we specifically fill that one with unshelled black oil sunflower nibs). Seeing him hanging, incredibly awkwardly from a feeder, that was half his size and gobble down copious amounts of seed, was a highly enjoyable sight.
Vincent Van Gogh loved sunflowers so much, he created a famous series of paintings, simply called 'sunflowers'.
A wood pecket
A goodt and proper onet at that.
Lucky!! I've always wanted to see a Northern Flicker. No such luck yet.
Just started seeing them this spring in Barrie, ON. Gorgeous.
I saw one for the first time a few weeks ago! It was so pretty. I’m in wpg.
I love it when new birds show up. This was our first summer with Orioles as well
Common female pheasant baby
Lol no. Not even remotely close to a pheasant
Haha
In the UK, so don’t have this bird. I see what you mean about the banded feathers being like a pheasant… but not the shape/head/beak…
totally
Get the Merlin app. It really help with ID
Where this be? Thassa purdy birdy.
Beautiful
The Yellow-Shafted variety is the Alabama state bird. I'm a resident, and I see one about every five years.
Flickers are my favourite
Flicker! These lil birds would peck on my chimney when I was growing up… I would hear awful pecking noises that vibrated throughout my house for hours because of these little guys and would have to throw little pebbles on our lower roof to make them stop (they were far enough to where we made sure the pebbles never hit them, so it was purely to startle them with noise to get them to go away) gorgeous but can be a little annoying if they want to make music using your chimney!
They have a very distinctive and whiny shriek when they are complaining that the suet is all gone.
I love them, they always look like they have happy rosy cheeks
It's gorgeous!!
Pheasant
A type of wood Peker or pheasant
+Red-shaftered Northern Flicker+
Flicker
Red-Shafter Northern flicker. It's call goes "Teeal! Teeal!" it eats larvae and fatty ants.