Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted subspecies)

This feather belongs to the Northern Flicker, a large, brown-toned woodpecker known for its unique ground-feeding habits and flash of color in flight. The bird has a barred back, a black crescent on the chest, and spotted underparts. The 'Yellow-shafted' form is found in the East, while the 'Red-shafted' form exists in the West.

The dorsal surface is a dark greyish-brown to charcoal. The most diagnostic feature is the brilliant yellow-to-golden coloration of the rachis (shaft) and the ventral (under) side of the barbs.

Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs on the main vane provide aerodynamic lift; plumulaceous (downy) barbs present at the very base near the calamus.

Smooth, stiff, and somewhat glossy on the upper surface; the underside has a satin-like luster from the structural and pigmented yellow color.

Bright yellow central rachis and yellow wash on the underside of the vane; dark brown/grey upper surface; stiff woodpecker-flight-feather morphology.

Open woodlands, forest edges, yards, and parks; unique among woodpeckers for frequently foraging on the ground for ants.

Resident across eastern and central North America; northern populations are migratory, moving south during winter months.

Primary cavity nester (creates holes used by other species), significant predator of ants and wood-boring larvae.

The 'Red-shafted' Northern Flicker has orange-red shafts; the Gilded Flicker has similar yellow shafts but is restricted to desert regions of the Southwest.

Northern Flickers have long, barbed tongues that can extend 2 inches past their beak to extract ants from the ground. They are one of the few North American woodpeckers that are strongly migratory.

Excellent condition; vanes are well-knit with no visible fault bars or parasite damage, suggesting a healthy bird and a recently molted specimen.