Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (Common Flicker)

The Northern Flicker is a large, distinctive woodpecker known for its brownish body barred with black and a white rump patch that is conspicuous in flight. Unlike most woodpeckers, they spend a lot of time on the ground foraging for ants and beetles, using their slightly curved bill and specialized barbed tongue.

Striking golden-yellow central shaft (rachis) contrasting with olive-brown barbs heavily tipped and barred with black toward the apex, creating a warm earthy tone

Pennaceous vane section transitioning into a plumulaceous (fluffy) downy base near the calamus, with intact barbs and micro-hooklets

Smooth and firm along the pennaceous upper vane, becoming soft and downy at the base, with a matte non-glossy finish

Brilliant yellow rachis combined with olive-brown upper barbs and a black-tipped apex, distinguishing the yellow-shafted morph from the red-shafted western counterpart

Open woodlands, forest edges, clearings, suburban parks, and orchards with an abundance of standing dead trees for nesting and foraging

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

Act as a keystone species by excavating tree cavities used subsequently by dozens of other secondary cavity-nesters, including bluebirds, swallows, and small owls

Red-shafted Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus cafer), which features bright reddish-orange rachises and underwing linings instead of yellow

Unlike typical woodpeckers that hammer loudly on wood to excavate, flickers drum on metal objects or hollow branches to attract mates, producing a resonant sound that can carry a long distance

Good condition, fresh appearance with intact barbs and no major signs of breakage, fading, or parasitic damage