Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)

The Northern Flicker is a large, distinctive woodpecker with brownish plumage barred with black, a white rump visible in flight, and a gentle curved bill. Unlike most woodpeckers, they spend a lot of time on the ground foraging primarily for ants.

Striking pattern with a grey-brown upper surface, a bold black subterminal band, and a clean white tip. The central shaft (rachis) shows golden-yellow tones near the base, characteristic of the yellow-shafted subspecies

Strongly pennaceous through the main vane with rigid, tightly interlocked barbules, becoming slightly frayed at the very base

Stiff, smooth, and durable with a matte finish, designed for high friction and wear resistance against rough bark

Bold black subterminal band near a bright white tip, paired with the characteristic golden-yellow rachis of the yellow-shafted morph

Open woodlands, forest edges, suburban yards, parks, and partially cleared areas with dead trees for nesting and foraging

Widespread across North America, ranging from Alaska and Canada down through the United States and into parts of Central America

Acts as a primary cavity excavator, creating essential nesting homes for numerous secondary cavity-nesting birds and mammals

Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus cafer), which features reddish-orange rachises instead of yellow

Northern Flickers can consume thousands of ants in a single day, using a specialized barbed tongue that can extend nearly two inches beyond the tip of their bill

Good condition overall with some minor wear and fraying at the extreme base where it attached to the uropygial area