Northern Flicker (Red-shafted group)

A medium-sized woodpecker with a brownish barred back and a black crescent on the breast. Unlike other woodpeckers, it is often seen hopping on lawns. In flight, the flash of red or pink under the wings and tail is unmistakable.

Distinctive salmon-pink to bright reddish-orange on the ventral side and shaft (rachis), with a dark brownish-black dorsal surface and tip. This coloration is diagnostic for the 'Red-shafted' western subspecies group.

Densely interlocked pennaceous barbs near the tip for durability, transitioning to a more flexible base. The barbs are tightly knit to provide a solid surface for flight and bracing.

Relatively stiff and smooth, with a slight glossy sheen on the dark portions. The rachis feels remarkably hard and quill-like compared to most passerines.

The vibrant salmon-red rachis (shaft) combined with a stiff, pointed tip specifically adapted for bracing against trees.

Open woodlands, forest edges, yards, and parks. Unlike many woodpeckers, they are frequently seen foraging on the ground for ants.

The Red-shafted group is found in Western North America, from Alaska through the Rocky Mountains down into Mexico. It interbreeds with the 'Yellow-shafted' form in the Great Plains.

Primary cavity nester; they excuse holes in trees that are later used by dozens of other species (owls, bluebirds, nuthatches) that cannot excavate their own.

Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (has yellow shafts), Gilded Flicker (found in desert southwest, different wing/tail proportions).

The Northern Flicker is one of the few North American woodpeckers that is strongly migratory. They also consume more ants than almost any other North American bird.

Good; the tip shows minor wear consistent with use as a brace against bark, but the pigmentation remains very bright.