Yellow-shafted Flicker

This feather belongs to a large, grayish-brown woodpecker known for its black breast crescent and spotted belly. Unlike other woodpeckers, the Yellow-shafted Flicker displays a flash of brilliant yellow under the wings and tail during flight.

The most diagnostic feature is the bright yellow rachis (shaft) and yellow coloring on the proximal portion of the barbs. The distal ends and outer vane are dark brownish-black to charcoal gray.

Mostly pennaceous and interlocked for aerodynamic efficiency, with some plumulaceous (fluffy) barbs at the very base for insulation.

Relatively stiff and smooth. The surface has a matte to semi-glossy finish, typical of woodpecker flight feathers which must withstand high impact against trees.

Bright yellow rachis (shaft), dark outer vanes, and a size consistent with a medium-sized woodpecker.

Open woodlands, forest edges, yards, and parks. Flickers are unique among woodpeckers for frequenting the ground to forage for ants.

Common across North America; the 'Yellow-shafted' form is found in the East and North (Alaska through the Eastern US), while the 'Red-shafted' form exists in the West.

Primary cavity nester; flickers drill holes that many other species (like bluebirds or owls) rely on for nesting. They also control insect populations, specifically ants.

Red-shafted Flicker (distinguished by red shaft), Gilded Flicker (found in desert Southwest, smaller and paler), or Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (lacks the bright yellow shaft).

The Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted flickers were once considered separate species but are now grouped as one (Northern Flicker) because they interbreed where their ranges overlap in the Great Plains.

Fair to Poor. The feather shows significant wear and fraying at the tip and along the edges, suggesting it was molted after a full season of use or has weathered on the ground.