Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted variant)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae, Genus: Colaptes, Species: Colaptes auratus · Picidae (Woodpeckers) · Flight feather (Tail rectrix)
Species
Colaptes auratus
Feather Type
Flight feather (Tail rectrix)
Family
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
Shape
Distinctly asymmetrical with a tapered, sharply pointed tip and a stiffened, reinforced central shaft.
Size
Approximately 4 to 5 inches in length. This is consistent with a primary tail feather used for bracing.
Rarity
Common
Color & Pattern
Bright golden-yellow shaft and inner vannes, transitioning to a dark brownish-black or charcoal tip and distal outer edge. This is the classic 'Yellow-shafted' morph found in Eastern North America.
Barb Structure
Tightly pennaceous and interlocked for aerodynamic efficiency, with plumulaceous (downy) barbs only at the very base (calamus area).
Texture & Surface
Stiff, glossy, and highly durable. The surface feels smooth and waxy to assist in water shedding and to resist abrasion against bark.
Description
A medium-sized woodpecker with a brownish barred back and a black 'crescent' on the chest. Known for its 'wick-wick-wick' call and its spectacular flash of yellow (or red in the West) under the wings and tail during flight.
Key Features
Vibrant yellow rachis (shaft), sharply pointed tip, and the contrast between the golden yellow base and dark tip.
Habitat
Open woodlands, edges, yards, and parks. Unlike most woodpeckers, they are frequently seen foraging on the ground for ants.
Geographic Range
Common across North America; the Yellow-shafted form is primarily found in the East and North, from the Atlantic coast to the Rocky Mountains.
Condition Notes
Good condition. The tip shows slight wear, likely from use as a mechanical support while the bird was climbing or drumming.
Interesting Facts
The Northern Flicker is one of the few North American woodpeckers that is strongly migratory. They also consume more ants than almost any other bird in North America.
Ecological Role
Primary cavity nester; the holes they excavate are vital homes for secondary cavity-nesting birds like bluebirds and nuthatches.
Similar Species
Red-shafted Northern Flicker (which has salmon-red shafts) and the Gilded Flicker (found in desert regions).