Northern Flicker

You’ve probably seen the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) if you live in North America, where they make their home, as they are one of the most unique and widespread woodpeckers in North America. Unlike most woodpeckers, these birds spend a lot of time on the ground, as they eat mostly ants and beetles. These bugs get dug up with the woodpecker’s slightly curved bill from the soil. These birds have a striking plumage, loud calls, and a habit of drumming on trees; it is no wonder that they are a favorite among birdwatchers.

5 Amazing Northern Flicker Facts

• Ground-Dwelling — Unlike most woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker finds most of their food on the ground, which largely consists of ants and beetles.
• Two Color Variations — “Yellow-shafted” Flickers dominate the East, while “Red-shafted” Flickers are common in the West. They hybridize in overlap zones.
• Sometimes Migrating — Some of these birds migrate, but others do not. It depends on the location. Throughout most of the U.S., these birds stay year-round.
• Drumming Communication — Like other woodpeckers, these birds drum on trees to communicate. When you hear them drumming, they aren’t looking for food. They’re talking with other woodpeckers.
• State Bird of Alabama — Known as the “Yellowhammer,” the Northern Flicker is Alabama’s official state bird.

Taxonomy and Subspecies

Northern Flickers are classified in the Colaptes genus. This genus contains 14 different species. The species name is Colaptes auratus. All woodpeckers belong to the larger Picidae family. This family contains all woodpeckers. These woodpeckers are found on every continent except Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the polar regions, making it a wide-ranging family.

There are two main subspecies of Northern Flicker in North America:

Red-shafted Flicker (C. a. cafer): Found in the West, with reddish underwings and tail, gray face.
In the Great Plains, the two interbreed, creating hybrids.

Yellow-shafted Flicker (C. a. auratus): Found in the East, with yellow underwings and tail feathers, red nape crescent.

Size, Appearance, & Behavior

Adult Northern Flickers are brown with black bars on their wings. Northern Flickers measure around 11 to 14 inches (28 – 36 cm) and have a wingspan of 17 to 21 inches (43 – 54 cm). Their body mass can vary widely, though they are usually between 3 and 5.9 ounces (86 – 167 g).

In the northern areas, their body size is typically larger. You’ll find the largest birds in Alaska, for instance. The smallest specimens are on Grand Cayman Island.

These birds have black patches on their upper breasts. However, their lower breast and belly are beige with black spots. Males have black or red stripes at the base of their beaks (“mustache mark”).

Northern Flickers are frequently seen hopping on the ground in search of ants and beetles. They use drumming and their loud calls (“wick-a-wick-a-wick”) as a means of communication. You can often find them perched conspicuously on trees, poles, or fence posts.

Sounds and Calls

These are very vocal birds. Their main call is a loud, repeated “wick-a-wick-a-wick.” Another sound is sharp “kleer” notes, and they also drum rapidly on resonant surfaces in order to mark territory.

Habitat and Range

You can find the Northern Flicker throughout the United States. In these areas, the bird stays year-round for the most part. However, in Texas and some other southern areas, these birds migrate to other areas to breed.

In Canada and Alaska, the birds stay during the spring and summer for breeding purposes. However, they migrate down to southern areas in the winter, as they cannot find food in these colder regions. These birds are also found in some Mexican regions. However, they usually migrate north for breeding in the summer and spring.

Northern Flickers can be found in a wide range of habitats, ranging from open woodlands, forest edges, and suburban yards to parks and orchards.

Diet and Feeding Habits

Northern Flickers eat more bugs and insects than many other woodpeckers. Their favorites are ants (45% of their diet) and beetles, which they gather from the ground. However, they will also eat fruits and seeds — especially in the winter.

These woodpeckers commonly hammer the soil, where they find ants under the ground. Their tongues can dart out as many as 2 inches, which helps them find the ant larvae they love. Other bugs commonly eaten include flies, moths, and snails.

If you want to attract Northern Flickers to your backyard, use suet, mealworms, or fruit feeders.

Nesting and Reproduction

These woodpeckers breed throughout much of their range. Very few of their population migrate for breeding purposes. They breed in the cavities of dead or diseased tree trunks. However, they will also use posts and birdhouses if they are appropriate. Both genders help excavate the nests.

Nests are usually around 6-15 feet off the ground, but can be as tall as 100 feet high. Usually, the entrance hole is about 3 inches in diameter. However, the cavity is about 13 to 16 inches deep. The cavity is wider at the bottom to allow the adult to sit on the eggs. However, the cavity is bare for the most part, though wood chips are left in the hole.

Usually, their clutches are between six to eight eggs. Their eggs are among the largest woodpecker eggs in North America. Incubation takes about 11 to 12 days, and each sex incubates the eggs. The young are fed for about 15 to 28 days. After that, they leave the nest.

Predators and Threats

Young nests are extremely vulnerable to predators. Squirrels, snakes, and raccoons can raid nests and eat eggs or baby birds.

Adult birds aren’t particularly vulnerable to predation. However, they are sometimes hunted by birds of prey. Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinned hawks are the most common.

Habitat loss, competition for nest cavities (especially with European starlings), and window collisions are other threats that these birds face.

Lifespan

Northern Flickers typically live for 7 to 9 years in the wild. The oldest recorded bird reached just over 9 years.

Conservation Status

Northern Flickers are extremely widespread and commonly found throughout the United States, with an estimated breeding population of about 12 million. However, their numbers are technically decreasing by about 1.2% per year. They are listed by the IUCN as Least Concern.

To help with conservation efforts, one can preserve dead trees for nesting, reduce pesticide use, and provide nest boxes to counteract habitat loss.

Northern Flickers vs. Similar Birds

• Red-bellied Woodpecker: Flickers are larger, browner, and more often on the ground.
• Gilded Flicker: Gilded Flickers live in the desert Southwest, with golden wing linings.

Cultural Significance

The Northern Flicker is the state bird of Alabama, where it’s affectionately known as the “Yellowhammer.” The Northern Flicker is also featured in Native American stories as a messenger bird due to its loud calls and drumming.