Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted or Red-shafted)

The Northern Flicker is a large, distinctive woodpecker with brownish plumage barred with black, a white rump visible in flight, and a colorful underwing lining. Unlike most woodpeckers, they often forage on the ground for ants and beetles.

Striking pattern of bold black bars and spots on a white or buff background, characteristic of flicker upperparts

Pennaceous upper half with tightly interlocked barbicels transitioning to a loose, plumulaceous (fluffy) downy base with an afterfeather

Smooth and firm on the upper pennaceous portion, soft and fluffy at the base

Distinctive black bars and spots on a pale background with a fluffy semiplume base

Open woodlands, forest edges, clearings, suburban parks, and semi-arid country with scattered trees

Widespread across North America, extending south into parts of Central America and the Caribbean

Primary cavity nesters that create holes used by many other secondary cavity-nesting species of birds and mammals

Red-bellied Woodpecker or Downy Woodpecker, though neither shares this exact bold barred mantle pattern

Northern Flickers are uniquely specialized to eat ants, using their sticky, barbed tongues to extract them from underground nests

Good condition with intact barbs and minimal wear