Northern Flicker (Red-shafted subspecies)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae, Genus: Colaptes, Species: Colaptes auratus · Picidae (Woodpeckers) · Flight feather (Remiges), likely a primary
Species
Colaptes auratus (Confidence: High)
Feather Type
Flight feather (Remiges), likely a primary
Family
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
Shape
Asymmetrical vane with a tapered, pointed tip and slight emarginations on the leading edge.
Size
Estimated 4.5 to 6 inches (12-15 cm) in length, consistent with the primary flight feathers of a medium-sized woodpecker.
Rarity
Common
Color & Pattern
Salmon-orange to reddish-pink rachis and basal vaning, transitioning into a dark brownish-black or charcoal tip. This is diagnostic of the Red-shafted subspecies.
Barb Structure
Mostly pennaceous and tightly interlocked for aerodynamic efficiency, with some plumulaceous (downy) structure at the very base near the calamus.
Texture & Surface
Stiff and smooth with a slight gloss on the dark tip; the rachis is rigid to support the stresses of flight and drumming.
Description
A striking flight feather from the Northern Flicker, a large, brownish woodpecker known for its spotted underparts and black crescent bib. Unlike most woodpeckers, flickers are often seen hopping on lawns eating ants. In flight, the 'Red-shafted' version displays a brilliant flash of salmon-orange under the wings and tail.
Key Features
Vibrant salmon-orange rachis combined with a dark terminal tip; asymmetrical vane characteristic of primary flight feathers.
Habitat
Open woodlands, forest edges, suburban parks, and yards; unique among woodpeckers for frequently foraging on the ground.
Geographic Range
Western North America, from Southeast Alaska through the Rocky Mountains down into Mexico; overlaps and interbreeds with the Yellow-shafted form in the Great Plains.
Condition Notes
Good condition; minor fraying at the tip and separation of barbs suggest it was molted naturally or recently dropped in the snow.
Interesting Facts
Northern Flickers are one of the few North American woodpeckers that are strongly migratory. They also have a specialized long, barbed tongue that can extend 2 inches past the beak to lap up ants.
Ecological Role
Primary cavity nester; they excavate holes in dead wood that are later used by dozens of other species including bluebirds, owls, and squirrels.
Similar Species
Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (has yellow rachis), Gilded Flicker (found in desert southwest, different wing proportions).