Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted or Red-shafted subspecies)

These are the striking wing feathers of a Northern Flicker. Unlike most woodpeckers, Flickers are brown with black barring and spend much of their time on the ground. When they fly, they reveal a flash of brilliant yellow or red under the wings and tail

Dark brownish-black dorsal surface with conspicuous large white or pale buff circular spots; the ventral side and rachis display vibrant yellow to salmon-orange coloration depending on the subspecies/hybridization

Tightly interlocked (pennaceous) for aerodynamic efficiency with a stiff, strong vane structure

Smooth, stiff, and glossy; the rachis is particularly rigid to support the flight stresses and wood-drilling lifestyles of woodpeckers

Brightly colored (yellow/orange) rachis and distinctive 'dotted' or 'windowed' white spotting on a dark brown-black field

Open woodlands, forest edges, yards, and parks; often found foraging on the ground for ants

Common across North America, from the treeline in Canada and Alaska south to the Gulf of Mexico and Central America

Primary cavity nester; they create holes used by many other bird and mammal species. They are significant insectivores, particularly of ants

Gilded Flicker (found in Southwest deserts, has more golden shafts and different facial markings)

The Northern Flicker is one of the few North American woodpeckers that is migratory. They are also known for their 'drumming' on metal objects to announce territories

Fair to Good; shows some minor ruffling at the base and proximal barbs, but the vanes are mostly intact