Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted or Red-shafted subspecies)
Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Aves; Order: Piciformes; Family: Picidae; Genus: Colaptes; Species: Colaptes auratus · Picidae (Woodpeckers) · Tail feather (Retrix), likely R1 or R2 (central rectrices)
Species
Colaptes auratus
Feather Type
Tail feather (Retrix), likely R1 or R2 (central rectrices)
Family
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
Shape
Highly specialized; asymmetrical, narrow, and elongated with a distinctly pointed, stiffened tip designed for bracing against tree trunks.
Size
Estimated 12-15 cm (4.7-6 inches) in length. Typical for a medium-sized woodpecker tail feather.
Rarity
Common; one of the most widespread and frequently encountered woodpeckers in North America.
Color & Pattern
Salmon-pink to reddish-orange shaft (rachis) and basal vanes, transitioning to a dark brownish-black or charcoal distal end. This specimen belongs to the Red-shafted form.
Barb Structure
Tightly pennaceous with very stiff, rigid barbs. The distal end of the rachis is exceptionally stiffened to support the bird's weight while climbing.
Texture & Surface
Smooth and glossy on the dorsal surface, extremely rigid and stiff to the touch, feeling almost like plastic or bone toward the tip.
Description
A medium-sized woodpecker with a barred back, spotted belly, and a black 'crescent' on the chest. Known for its flashing underwings and tail during flight.
Key Features
The distinctive brightly colored (red/pink) rachis combined with the stiff, pointed tip of a woodpecker tail feather.
Habitat
Open woodlands, forest edges, yards, parks, and grasslands with scattered trees. Unlike most woodpeckers, they often forage on the ground.
Geographic Range
Common across North America; Red-shafted forms are primarily found in the West, from the Great Plains to the Pacific Coast and south into Mexico.
Condition Notes
Good condition; showing slight wear at the tip consistent with the mechanical stress of bracing against bark.
Interesting Facts
The Northern Flicker is one of the few woodpecker species that is strongly migratory in the northern parts of its range. They primarily eat ants.
Ecological Role
Primary cavity nester; their abandoned holes provide essential nesting sites for secondary cavity nesters like bluebirds and small owls.
Similar Species
Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (has yellow rachis), Gilded Flicker (found in desert SW, different color intensity/size).