Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted Flicker, Common Flicker)

The Northern Flicker is a large, distinctive woodpecker with brownish upperparts barred with black and a white rump visible in flight. Unlike most woodpeckers, they often forage on the ground for ants and beetles. They have a spotted breast with a prominent black crescent necklace and colorful wing and tail linings.

Rich warm tan to brownish-yellow background color heavily marked with distinct black spots and bars. The upper portion transitions into a dark greyish-brown area, and the proximal base shows fluffy white down with hints of yellow on the robust rachis shaft.

Mostly pennaceous in the distal colored portion with firmly interlocked barbs and barbules, transitioning into a fluffy plumulaceous (downy) base with a subtle afterfeather.

Smooth and matte on the pennaceous vane, soft and downy at the basal plumulaceous region.

Rich brownish-tan coloration heavily spotted and barred with black, combined with a pale yellow-gold shaft and a downy white base.

Open woodlands, forest edges, clearings, urban parks, yards, and semi-open country with scattered trees and snags for nesting.

Widespread across North America, extending south into parts of Central America and the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate short distances, while southern populations are year-round residents.

Primary cavity nesters that create holes in dead trees, providing crucial nesting real estate for secondary cavity nesters like bluebirds, swallows, and small owls.

Other woodpecker species such as the Red-bellied Woodpecker or Downy Woodpecker, but their body feathers lack the rich barred tan and spotted pattern characteristic of flickers.

Unlike typical woodpeckers that hammer trees for wood-boring insects, Northern Flickers specialize in eating ants and have specialized sticky saliva to capture them.

Good condition, fresh appearance with intact barbs and minimal wear.