Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted or Red-shafted subspecies), also known as Common Flicker.

This feather belongs to a Northern Flicker, a large, brownish woodpecker known for its unique habits. The bird has a barred back, a black crescent on the chest, and a spotted belly. In flight, they show a white rump patch and bright yellow or red flashes under the wings and tail depending on the subspecies. They are famous for their 'wick-wick-wick' call and their preference for foraging on the ground.

Distinctive bold black and white/buff banding. The base color is a creamy white to pale buff, crossed by thick, dark brownish-black horizontal bars. The rachis appears dark on the dorsal side.

Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs throughout most of the vane to provide aerodynamic lift. The base shows a small amount of plumulaceous (downy) structure near the calamus.

Stiff and relatively smooth on the pennaceous regions. The surface has a matte to low-gloss finish, typical of woodpecker feathers which must withstand high-impact druming and tree climbing.

Bold horizontal black-and-white banding (bars) combined with a narrow, asymmetrical primary feather shape. The specific width of the bands and the creamy base color are diagnostic.

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

Found across nearly all of North America, from the tree line in Canada and Alaska south to Central America and the Caribbean. Migratory in the northern parts of its range.

Primary cavity nester; they create holes in trees that are later used by many other species (bluebirds, nuthatches, etc.). They are also major predators of ants and wood-boring larvae.

Red-bellied Woodpecker feathers have similar banding but are usually smaller and the bands are often tighter/more frequent. Hairy and Downy Woodpecker feathers have white spots rather than full bars.

Northern Flickers are the only North American woodpeckers that strongly prefer foraging on the ground; their tongues can extend up to two inches past the tip of their beak to lap up ants.

Fair to Good. The feather shows significant edge wear and some separation of the barbs (fraying) at the tip, suggesting it was molted naturally after a full season of use.