Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted Flicker, Common Flicker)

The Northern Flicker is a large, distinctive woodpecker with a brownish body barred with black, a white rump visible in flight, and a red crescent on the nape. Unlike most woodpeckers, they frequently forage on the ground for ants and beetles.

Striking dark brownish-grey outer vane contrasting sharply with a pale cream to yellowish inner web, featuring a prominent, vibrant yellow central rachis characteristic of the yellow-shafted subspecies

Pennaceous vane with tightly interlocked barbs and barbules, strong and intact condition, no afterfeather

Smooth, firm, glossy vane surface with high rigidity along the rachis and flexible, velvety edges

Vibrant yellow rachis (shaft) and contrasting dark grey-brown and cream-buff vane pattern

Open woodlands, forest edges, suburban yards, parks, and agricultural areas with scattered trees and snags

Widespread across North America, breeding from Alaska and Canada down through the United States to Central America

Keystone cavity-excavating species; abandoned flicker cavities provide essential nesting sites for numerous secondary cavity nesters including bluebirds, owls, and small mammals

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

Unlike typical wood-pecking species, Northern Flickers specialize in eating ants and have an extraordinarily long, barbed tongue that can extend up to two inches beyond the tip of their bill.

Excellent condition, fresh vane with intact barbs and no signs of wear, fading, or damage