Red-shafted Northern Flicker

This feather belongs to a large, grayish-brown woodpecker known for its unique ground-feeding habits. Unlike most woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker is often seen hopping on lawns. The 'Red-shafted' version is distinguished by the vibrant red undersides of the wings and tail, which are visible as a flash of color during flight.

Bright salmon-red to orange on the proximal two-thirds of the vane and throughout the rachis, transitioning sharply to a dark brownish-black distal tip

Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs near the tip for flight rigidity, transitioning to a short plumulaceous section near the base (calamus)

Smooth and glossy on the upper surface, with a stiff, resilient texture characteristic of woodpecker flight feathers designed for high-impact activity

Vibrantly colored red/orange rachis combined with a dark blackish tip; asymmetrical flight feather shape typical of woodpecker primaries

Open woodlands, forest edges, suburban yards, and parks; often seen foraging on the ground for ants

Western North America, from southern Alaska and western Canada down through the western United States to Mexico

Primary cavity nester that creates homes for many other species; also acts as a significant predator of ground-dwelling insects

Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (has yellow shafts), Gilded Flicker (found in desert southwest, different shade of orange-yellow), and various Hawk species (which lacks the solid red rachis)

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

Excellent condition; the edges are crisp and the pigmentation is vivid, suggesting a relatively fresh molt with minimal sun bleaching or mechanical wear