the northern flicker ( colaptes auratus ) is a medium-sized bird of the woodpecker family .

it is native to most of north america , parts of central america , cuba , and the cayman islands , and is one of the few woodpecker species that migrate .

over 100 common names for the northern flicker are known , including yellowhammer ( not to be confused with the eurasian yellowhammer ) , clape , gaffer woodpecker , harry-wicket , heigh-ho , wake-up , walk-up , wick-up , yarrup , and gawker bird .

many of these names derive from attempts to imitate some of its calls .

northern flicker

boreal flicker , common flicker , cuban flicker , gilded flicker , gilded woodpecker , golden - winged woodpecker , guadalupe flicker , malherbe’s flicker , mearns’ flicker , northwestern flicker , red - shafted flicker , red - shafted woodpecker , san fernando flicker , san pedro flicker , southern flicker , yellowhammer , yellow - shafted flicker .
there are five subspecies of northern flicker : the yellow - shafted flicker , the red - shafted flicker , the gilded flicker , the guatemalan flicker , and the cuban flicker and throat color , head color and the presence of a red marking on the neck can vary depending on the subspecies .
the northern flicker is classified as least concern ( lc ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) .
gilded flicker the gilded flicker of the desert southwest is very similar , but slightly smaller and has an all brown crown .
the northern flicker can be found in open forests , woodlots and groves . it is common in parks and gardens .
the longest lifespan recorded is 9 years and 2 months for a yellow - shafted form of the northern flicker and 6 years and 8 months for a red - shafted form of the northern flicker . most northern flickers probably live much less than this , maybe surviving only a few years .
northern flicker male rolling rattle call ( territorial ) : wik - wik wik . seen on telephone pole outside house . not modified .
the oldest known yellow - shafted form of the northern flicker was a male and was at least 9 years , 2 months old when he was found in florida . the oldest red - shafted form of northern flicker lived to be at least 8 years , 9 months old .
early research on the northern flicker focused on phenotypic variation and dynamics of the hybrid zone . the detailed and descriptive work of lester short (
detection of 1 northern flicker by detailed ecological unit in yukon - charley rivers national preserve , alaska , avian inventory , june 1999 and 2000 .
the northern flicker is one of the few north american woodpeckers that is strongly migratory . flickers in the northern parts of their range move south for the winter , although a few individuals often stay rather far north .
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a loud , repeated flicker or wicka - wicka - wicka ; also a loud kleeer .
to make it a female yellow - shafted flicker , add a red crescent on the back of the head . then add a black malar mark to turn it into a male yellow - shated flicker .
the red - shafted and yellow - shafted forms of the northern flicker formerly were considered different species . the two forms hybridize extensively in a wide zone from alaska to the panhandle of texas . a hybrid often has some traits from each of the two forms and some traits that are intermediate between them . the red - shafted flicker also hybridizes with the gilded flicker , but less frequently .
the northern flicker , which is a woodpecker , pecks on the sides of trees for food , but it mainly searches leaf litter and dead bark looking for its favorite prey — ants .
the northern flicker breeds throughout most of the u . s . , as well as large parts of canada and small parts of northern mexico . other subspecies occur in cuba , and in southern mexico south to central america . its population has been declining in recent years .
click the range map to learn more about the distribution of northern flickers in washington .
range : northern flicker ranges from alaska to quebec , and south throughout the entire united states . it winters in the southern part of its range , and in northern mexico . we can find it on grand cayman , cuba and as far south as the highlands of nicaragua .
gila woodpecker the gila woodpecker looks much like a flicker without the crescent black markings on the upper chest .
this is a hybrid flicker ( luteus x cafer ) . here is a photo of the bird : urltoken
although it can climb up the trunks of trees and hammer on wood like other woodpeckers , the northern flicker prefers to find food on the ground . ants are its main food , and the flicker digs in the dirt to find them . it uses its long barbed tongue to lap up the ants .
conserving the northern flicker is of critical importance if biodiversity in north american forests is to be preserved as it acts as a keystone species by excavating a large proportion of the nest cavities used by many other cavity - nesting bird species . despite this , there have been few conservation actions targeting the northern flicker , and conducting further studies into determining the main cause of the species’ decline is of paramount importance . it is also recommended that snags should be left in managed forests to prevent the loss of nesting habitat ( 4 ) . the northern flicker is also protected by the migratory bird treaty act , which has been ratified by the governments of mexico , canada and the united states and prohibits the killing or harming of the northern flicker , including its nests and eggs ( 6 ) .
• the northern flicker is one of the few north american woodpeckers that is strongly migratory . flickers in the northern parts of their range move south for the winter , although a few individuals often remain far to the north . they are permanent residents across much of the u . s .
northern flickers are migratory , moving between summer and winter ranges during the spring and fall .
adult male northern wheatear in breeding plumage , alaska . photo by mark peck via birdshare .
the northern flicker is a common , primarily ground - foraging woodpecker that occurs in most wooded regions of north america . its taxonomic status has been debated because of hybridization among subspecies groups , each readily distinguished by plumage coloration . two subspecies , the yellow - shafted flicker ( colaptes auratus auratus ) of eastern north america and the red - shafted flicker ( c . a . cafer ) of western north america , form a long , narrow hybrid zone in the great plains that parallels the rain shadow of the rocky mountains and crosses the canadian rockies extending to southern alaska . this hybrid zone has been of great interest to ornithologists and evolutionary biologists for more than a century . hybridization occurs on a more limited basis between the
red - shafted
flicker and the gilded flicker ( c . chrysoides ) , a separate species associated with the sonoran desert . two other subspecies groups of the northern flicker are allopatric ; the cuban flicker ( chrysocaulosus group ) occurs on cuba and grand cayman island , and the guatemalan flicker ( mexicanoides group ) occurs in the highlands of southern mexico south to northwestern nicaragua .
• the family picidae has over 200 species and is found almost everywhere , with about 20 species breeding in north america . the northern flicker , colaptes auratus , has many subspecies . the male yellow - shafted flicker ( c . a . luteus ) has the typical black mustache . the male red - shafted flicker ( c . a . cafer ) has a red i’ mustache . interbreeding can produce offspring with either black or red mustaches .
flicker would suggest poor smoothing capacitors . . . and they ' re likely to be the first things to go .
moore , w . s . 1987b . random mating in the northern flicker hybrid zone : implications for the evolution of bright and contrasting plumage patterns in birds . evolution no . 41 : 539 - 546 . close
habitat : northern flicker lives in wooded areas , with stand of dead trees . it likes also open areas , forest edges , clearings , burnt areas , agricultural lands and residential areas , parks and large gardens .
in general , populations of the northern flicker across north america are stable . however , habitat loss is a main cause of any decrease in woodpecker numbers . the european starling is the flicker’s worst enemy in colorado , competing for food and nest holes . since woodpeckers damage trees and utility poles with their drilling , humans often target the birds .
the gilded flicker closely resembles the northern flicker and combines some features of the yellow - shafted ( yellow wings and tail base ) and the red - shafted ( head pattern ) . the gilded flicker is smaller and shows black on the distal half of the undertail ; northern flicker undertails are black on about the distal third ( note that all flicker tails look mostly black from above ) . the crown of the gilded is more extensively brown than in the red - shafted northern , and the back is paler , more gray - brown , with narrower and more widely spaced black bars ( but note that interior western red - shafted are paler backed than northwestern birds ) . the black crescent on the chest of the golden is thicker and more truncated on the sides . the spotting on the underparts is broadened into short bars or crescents on the flanks of the gilded ; northerns have round spots throughout the underparts .
the image below is a female red - shafted flicker . add a red malar strip and it would be a male .
unlike most woodpeckers , the flicker eats large numbers of ants , along with other insects as well as fruits and berries .
i supplied a link to an industry led magazine which details what causes led flicker , which is what this thread is about .
brigham , r . m . , m . j . sarell , and c . g . harris . 1990 . “roosting of northern flicker ( colaptes auratus ) under a concrete bridge . ” northwestern naturalist 71 : 52 - 53 .
like most woodpeckers , northern flickers drum on objects as a form of communication and territory defense . in such cases , the object is to make as loud a noise as possible , and that’s why woodpeckers sometimes drum on metal objects . one northern flicker in wyoming could be heard drumming on an abandoned tractor from a half - mile away .
northern flickers feed principally on ants but also take other insects and some fruit , seeds , and berries .
dobkin , d . s . 1992 . neotropical migrant land birds in the northern rockies and great plains . usda forest service , northern region . publication no . r1 - 93 - 34 . missoula , mt .
breeding interval northern flickers breed each year , they may have one or two clutches within the nesting season .
the northern flicker is a large bird measuring between 10 - 14 inches long . the back and wings are brown / tan and black - barred with a whitish or buffy breast with black spots and a wide black band across the breast .
when the northern flicker migrates to its breeding ground , the area resonates with sound . the flicker’s characteristic call , wick , wick , wick , sounds like “wake - up , wake - up , wake - up . ” the call announces the flicker’s arrival , and the male and female mate . the male flicker frequently drums , especially on metal , a noise that can be annoying to many humans . but overall , the bird does not tap as much as other woodpeckers do for communication . instead a loud klee - yer call is used for long - distance beckoning , especially by highly vocal fledglings . in short flight , the flicker rapidly beats its wings to rise , then slows to dip about every 3′ , stalling motionlessly for a brief moment before continuing the pattern . when flickers that live in the northern regions migrate , they follow fixed courses , traveling in large flocks . since the flicker is such an indeterminate egg - layer , humans have removed eggs to see just how many a female flicker will lay . the record is 71 eggs in 73 days . scientists have seen a male flicker treat his female partner as a rival when a fake black mustache was fastened on her face . as soon as it was removed , he accepted her back at the nest .
northern flickers range from alaska eastward to quebec , then south throughout the entire united states . northern flickers are migratory . they winter in the southern part of the united states and in northern mexico . in addition , these woodpeckers are found on grand cayman , cuba , and range as far south as the highlands of nicaragua .
the flicker is named for its flight pattern : it “flicks” up and down , revealing brilliant yellow underwings that glitter in the sunlight .
nowster wrote : flicker would suggest poor smoothing capacitors . . . and they ' re likely to be the first things to go .
measuring almost 20″ in length , the great slaty woodpecker ( mulleripicus pulverulentus ) is 40 % longer than the northern flicker ; and at 19 oz . weighs three times as much . it is the largest old world woodpecker : the great slaty is slate - gray ( hence its name ) and has a long neck and tail , perfect for long days spent hammering and drilling on the sides of trees in southeast asia . this sharply contrasts with the varied colors of the flicker’s plumage and its shorter neck , adapted for life spent mainly on the ground in north america foraging for ants and other insects . northern flicker great slaty woodpecker
chances are , if you have northern flickers ; a suet feeder will bring them in for a close look .
the yellow - shafted flicker has a red patch on its neck and yellow feathers on the inside of its wings . the male has a black mustache . yellow - shafted flickers can be found in the east and the north . the red - shafted flicker has pinkish feathers on the inside of its wings and the male has a red mustache . the red - shafted flicker is common in the west . the gilded flicker can be found in the deserts of southeastern california and southern arizona . it has yellow wing linings and the males have a red mustache .
the northern flicker has a large range , estimated globally at 15 , 000 , 000 square kilometers . native to north and central america and nearby island nations , this bird prefers forest ecosystems , though it can live on arable or pasture land or in urban areas . the global population of this bird is estimated at 16 , 000 , 000 individuals and does not show signs of significant decline that would necessitate inclusion on the iucn red list . for this reason , the current evaluation status of the northern flicker is least concern .
• the red - shafted and yellow - shafted forms of the northern flicker formerly were considered different species . the two forms hybridize extensively in a wide zone from alaska to the panhandle of texas . a hybrid often has some traits from each of the two forms .
behaviour : northern flicker male recognizes female by sight . pairs often mate for life , and typically return to the same area for nesting . it can have aggressive displays to protect its mate or territory . it may point the bill at a rival , with the head tilted forward , or pecks at an opponent . for a more aggressive display , a northern flicker may use side to side head and body movements against an opponent . a “head - bobbing” display may be used too . sometimes , these displays are accompanied by tail spreading .
wiebe , k . l . and moore , w . s . ( 2008 ) northern flicker ( colaptes auratus ) . in : poole , a . ( ed . ) the birds of north america online . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca . available at : urltoken
diet : northern flicker main food is ants . but they consume others insects , including grasshoppers , crickets , termites , wasps , aphids , beetles and their larvae , caterpillars and spiders . they consume also cherries and berries , and weed seeds , acorns and other nut kernels .
wiebe , karen l . and william s . moore . 2017 . northern flicker ( colaptes auratus ) , version 2 . 1 . in the birds of north america ( p . g . rodewald , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , new york , usa .
voice : sounds by xeno - canto northern flicker sings while is flying . its song is a loud “wick - wick - wick - wick - wick” . individual notes sound like a loud ‘klee - yer” and a squeaky “flick - a , flick - a , flick - a” .
the northern flicker is also unusual for being one of few north american woodpeckers that exhibits strong migratory behaviour ( 3 ) . those populations in the southern and central parts of the species’ range may remain in the same location all year round , but those at more northerly locations tend to travel southwards before the onset of winter ( 2 ) ( 3 ) . typically , they leave the northern breeding grounds from the end of august to late october or november , with most birds departing in september . whilst migrating , the northern flicker flies low over the ground , often in large flocks , and does not return to the breeding grounds until early march to may the following year ( 2 ) .
how often does reproduction occur ? northern flickers breed each year , they may have one or two clutches within the nesting season .
the flicker can be found in much of north america from the tree line in canada and alaska south to nicaragua . flickers in alaska and canada are migratory .
) . the largest study dedicated to understanding the reproductive ecology , life history , and population ecology of the northern flicker is a long - term study by k . l . wiebe at riske creek , central british columbia , where 100–150 color - banded nesting pairs have been monitored annually since 1997 .
this is a yellow - shafted flicker eating suet . if you would like to attract these birds to your backyard just click the link below for some great ideas .
northern flickers use a drumming technique to attract a mate . unfortunately for many people , they often practice on the metal flues of fireplaces .
range / habitat : northern flickers can be found throughout most wooded regions of north america . prefers forest edges and open woodlands approaching savannas .
moore , w . s . 1995 . northern flicker ( colaptes auratus ) . species account number 166 . the birds of north america online ( a . poole , ed . ) . ithaca , ny : cornell laboratory of ornithology ; retrieved 3 / 25 / 2008 from the birds of north america online database
reproduction : breeding season occurs from february to july . northern flicker’s nest is excavated in dead tree trunks , or in a dead part of live trees , or telephone poles . it may be found in unlined tree cavities , or in earthen banks of termite’s nests . the nest is usually built below 3 meters .
as a broadly distributed species , the northern flicker occupies a diversity of habitats . it may be found in almost any habitat with trees and access to open ground , preferring open woodlands , savannas and forest edges , although it tends to avoid the densest forests ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 7 ) .
as its broad geographic distribution suggests , the northern flicker is a generalist in many respects , but in others it is a specialist . it is clearly a species of open woodlands , savannas , farmland with tree rows , and forest edges . it eats mostly ants but also beetle larvae and—during late autumn , winter , and early spring—a variety of berries . the northern flicker is well adapted to habitats altered by humans , commonly breeding in urban as well as suburban and rural environments , and visiting backyard bird feeders . nevertheless , data from the north american breeding bird survey indicate significant declines in abundance . reasons for these declines are unclear , but likely explanations are habitat loss and competition with the european starling ( sturnus vulgaris ) for nest cavities . although the northern flicker remains abundant , this declining trend should be viewed with concern because the species plays a central role in the ecology of woodland communities where it excavates many of the cavities later used by other hole - nesting species .
northern flicker : this species breeds from alaska east through manitoba to newfoundland and south throughout the u . s . and into mexico and cuba . it is a resident from approximately the u . s . - canada border southward , as the northernmost birds are migratory . preferred habitats include forest edges and open woodlands approaching savannas .
the flicker ' s diet is mostly insects , including ants . they also eat termites , beetles , caterpillars , fruits , and berries . they will sometimes eat seeds and nuts .
. once they reach adulthood , northern flickers are preyed upon by several birds of prey that specialize on hunting birds . in eastern north america this includes
distribution : northern flickers winter within north america throughout most of the contiguous united states . in summer , they range throughout most of alaska and canada . within yukon - charley rivers national preserve , these birds were detected only rarely during the yukon - charley rivers national preserve bird inventory , june 1999 and 2000 . one northern flicker was detected in the boreal forests of the ogilvie foothills ( of ) ecological unit during the survey . woodpecker species were not well inventoried using our sampling technique .
if you want to attract a flicker to your backyard keep a fresh birdbath , don ' t kill your ants in your backyard and lay out apples , peanut butter , or raisins .
northern wheatears breed all the way across northern eurasia and reach north america in both the west ( alaska and the yukon ) and the east ( the canadian arctic ) . so why don’t we get to see them in the winter , the way we get to see snow buntings , american tree sparrows , and snowy owls ? because all of the world’s northern wheatears , save a few vagrants , spend the winter in the same region : sub - saharan africa .
woodpeckers of the family picidae ( meaning
smeared with pitch
) are highly arboreal birds with chisel - like bills , strong claws , short legs and stiff tail - feathers . they usually occur singly in wooded areas , using their sharp claws to easily climb trees . most species
drum
or tap - out their songs on resonant trunks or branches . by using their stiff tail - feathers as props , they are able to anchor on tree trunks and drum signals or excavate cavities with their strong , sharp bills . five species of woodpeckers occur in yukon - charley rivers national preserve : the northern flicker and the three - toed , black - backed , downy and hairy woodpeckers . the northern flicker is so named for its distinctive
flicker
- sounding call note . in reference to their tree - boring habits and colaptes auratus aptly means
golden chisel !
moore , w . s . and j . t . price . 1993 .
the nature of selection in the northern flicker hybrid zone and its implications for speciation theory .
in hybrid zones and the evolutionary process . , edited by r . g . harrison , 196 - 225 . oxford , uk : oxford univ . press . close
the northern flicker ranges from the tree line in canada and alaska , south and eastwards across the north american continent , generally east of the rocky mountains , to the gulf of mexico , central america and the northern antilles ( 2 ) ( 6 ) . the red - shafted form is largely restricted to the western half of the united states , while the yellow - shafted form is found in the eastern half , with a broad zone in the centre of the country where the two forms interbreed ( 4 ) .
despite being adept at climbing up the trunks of trees and hammering at wood to extract embedded insects , unlike other woodpeckers the northern flicker prefers to forage for food on the ground , hopping or running short distances between prey ( 3 ) ( 4 ) . ants may comprise as much as 75 percent of its diet ( 2 ) , which it captures by hammering and digging at the soil , before darting out its long , barbed tongue at the end of the bill to snare its prey ( 3 ) . the northern flicker also eats beetles , flies , butterflies , moths and snails , and often forages amongst other birds including sparrows and blackbirds , either alone , in pairs , in family groups , or in flocks of up to 15 birds ( 2 ) ( 3 ) . when startled , unlike most other woodpeckers which quickly clamber up a nearby tree trunk , the northern flicker alights upon a thin horizontal branch and sits in a characteristic erect posture . it flies in a smooth rising and falling motion as it alternates periods of flapping with gliding ( 3 ) .
the northern flicker is a large brown woodpecker . it has a white tail with black bars and a black tip , a light brown to off - white breast with black to brown spots . it has a black
bib
on its upper chest . males have a black or red
mustache
that runs from its bill down to its cheek .
drumming ( 8 drums ) from two red - shafted flicker males in close proximity to each other in cottonwoods along the cache la poudre river . recording unmodified except for removal of 90 seconds of silence .
northern flickers generally nest in holes in trees like other woodpeckers . occasionally , they’ve been found nesting in old , earthen burrows vacated by belted kingfishers or bank swallows .
year - round area includes both resident and wintering populations . the northern limit of year - round range is variable . see figure 2 for breeding distribution of subspecies .
at the species level , northern flickers are partial migrants , because some individuals in the south are non - migratory , but northern populations would be considered short - distance migrants as all individuals leave the breeding area . the location of wintering areas on the continent suggests the main attribute of suitable habitat is snow - free ground favourable for foraging (
this bird will use a properly constructed bird house for nesting . as a cavity nester the flicker will excavate a nest in a tree , post , or catus anywhere from 8 - 100 feet above the ground .
the flicker is the only woodpecker in north american that commonly finds food on the ground . it often forages for ants and beetle larvae on the ground . it will sometimes perch on tree limbs to eat berries .
northern flickers usually excavate nest holes in dead or diseased tree trunks or large branches . in northern north america look for nests in trembling aspens , which are susceptible to a heartrot that makes for easy excavation . unlike many woodpeckers , flickers often reuse cavities that they or another species excavated in a previous year . nests are generally placed 6 - 15 feet off the ground , but on rare occasions can be over 100 feet high . northern flickers have been known to nest in old burrows of belted kingfishers or bank swallows .
although still widespread and relatively common , northern flicker populations have been in decline for several decades , estimated at around two percent per year . the principle cause of this decline is unclear , but it may be due to competition for nest cavities with other birds , reduced availability of nest sites , or the application of pesticides ( 4 ) . competition with introduced european starlings ( sturnus vulgaris ) is often evoked as an explanation for dwindling numbers of the northern flicker , but while some studies have found evidence to support this notion , others have not ( 4 ) ( 7 ) . similarly , the policy of removing snags , dead limbs and diseased trees from urban areas and managed forests may be limiting the availability of nesting cavities , but it is still unclear how significant a factor this is . there is also some limited evidence to suggest that the northern flicker is susceptible to ingesting pesticides used on golf courses , agricultural fields and suburban fields ( 4 ) . in cuba , deforestation is the greatest threat to the species , while it is now thought to be extinct in guadeloupe as a result of habitat destruction by feral goats and predation by cats ( 2 ) .
the distribution of distances travelled between breeding and wintering sites of individual northern flickers ( n = 199 ) . data are based on continent - wide banding recoveries and geolocator data .
the northern flicker is one of the largest and most beautiful woodpeckers in north america . we receive numerous calls each year along with customers stopping by wild bird habitat asking about this bird that they occasionally see in their yards . it does not frequent feeders and bird baths as often as other woodpeckers , but when it appears the shear size of this bird makes it very noticeable and a joy to see .
with ants as an important food source , the flicker often forages on the ground , but will also climb tree trunks and limbs like other woodpeckers . when eating fruits , it may forage out at the tips of branches .
to find northern flickers , try walking through open woods or forest edges , but scan the ground . you may flush a flicker from a feeding spot up into a nearby tree . look for the obvious white rump patch in flight . also , be sure to listen for their loud , ringing call and their piercing yelp . in late summer , listen for the incessant yammering of hungry nestlings to find a nest .
protection / threat / status : young in the nest are vulnerable to predators such as racoons , squirrels and snakes . later , they are preyed upon by birds of prey ( cooper ’s hawk , and sharp - shinned hawks in north america ) . populations are not seriously endangered by human activities , but they loose their habitat . northern flicker helps to control the populations of their preys , especially ant’s populations , and aphids .
northern flickers help to control the populations of their invertebrate prey , especially ant populations . they also create nests that are later used by other cavity - nesting species of birds and by squirrels .
at the start of the breeding season , the birds perform courtship displays including drumming , bowing and chasing in order to attract a mate . a flicker usually remains paired for life , but renews its bond each year through these rituals . after selecting a site , both birds excavate a hole that takes up to three weeks to construct . the number of eggs a flicker will lay is dependent on how many she observes in her initial clutch . if a predator robs an egg or two during egg laying , the flicker will lay replacements . the male and female share incubation duties , and an average of 5 - 7 chicks hatch after about 12 days . both sexes feed the chicks until they fledge about one month later .
q . can you tell a migrant just by its size or color ? a . although different populations of robins are slightly different sizes and the color intensity of the plumage varies somewhat geographically , robins don ' t really show the cut - and - dried plumage variations that populations and subspecies of others birds do . on average , robins are smallest in the warm , humid southeastern us , and smaller than average along the humid coast of northern california and the pacific northwest . robins are largest in the high , dry rocky mountains , northern great plains , and northern deserts of the west .
male and female northern flickers make a loud , evenly spaced , rapid drumming sound by hammering against trees or metal objects . you can often see a drumming bird pause , move its head just an inch or so away , and then begin drumming again with a very different quality of sound . flicker drumming lasts about a second , during which the bird strikes the tree around 25 times . drumming in woodpeckers takes the place of singing in songbirds .
northern flickers do not act like typical woodpeckers . they mainly forage on the ground often seen among sparrows and blackbirds . when you see a flicker in a tree they will be perched in an upright stance on thin horizontal branches . other woodpeckers cling to branches or tree trucks using their tail for leverage . neither do they fly in rapid undulating patterns as other woodpeckers . they will rise and drop smoothly as they alternate flapping their wings then gliding .
northern flickers do not respond strongly to predators . they may make tentative flights around the predator or make bill - poking movements towards the predator . young in the nest are vulnerable to nest predators such as
johnsgard , p . a . 1992 . birds of the rocky mountains with particular reference to national parks in the northern rocky mountain region . lincoln : university of nebraska press . xi + 504 pp .
kerpez , t . a . and n . s . smith . 1990 . nest - site selection and nest - cavity characteristics of gila woodpeckers and northern flickers . condor 92 : 193 - 198 .
] suggests that at least 69 species of birds show similar latitude - based migration tendencies with northern populations tending to be more migratory and southern ones sedentary ( e . g . red - tailed hawks (
northern flickers don’t habitually visit bird feeders , but you can find them in backyards and at bird baths . if your backyard has a mixture of trees and open ground , or if it’s near woods , you may find northern flickers simply by walking around the wooded edges . find out more about what this bird likes to eat and what feeder is best by using the project feederwatch common feeder birds bird list .
aggressive displays such as
bill directing
or
bill poking
are used by flickers . that is , a flicker may point his bill at a rival with his head tilted forward , or actually peck at an opponent . a more aggressive display is
head swinging ,
whereby a flicker will use side - to - side movements of his head and body against an opponent . there is also a
head bobbing
display that may be used . sometimes tail spreading accompanies head swinging or bobbing displays .
northern flickers are found in wooded areas that have stands of dead trees . they are also found in open areas , forest edges , clear - cut areas , burnt areas , agricultural lands , and residential areas .
diet : northern flickers feed primarily on insects and dine on ants more than any other north american bird ! they also occasionally will consume seeds , acorns , nuts and grains . young birds are fed regurgitated food .
living in the nearctic biogeographic province , the northern part of the new world . this includes greenland , the canadian arctic islands , and all of the north american as far south as the highlands of central mexico .
the northern flicker is a large , mostly brownish woodpecker with extensive gray on the head and neck , a black bib , and large , round , black spots on the breast and flanks . its upperparts have black barring , and in flight it shows a white rump and colorful patches in the primaries , which may be red in western birds , or yellow in eastern birds . these patches are visible from above , but are much more extensive on the undersides of the wings .
northern flickers are large , brown woodpeckers with attractive black - scalloped plumage and black bars on the wings . they have a noticeable black patch on the upper breast below the throat resembling a bib while the lower breast and belly are beige with black spots . male flickers have marking on each side of the face referred to as a mustache . females lack these marks . if the markings are black it is a yellow - shafted flicker more common in the eastern united states . if they are red it is a red - shafted flicker a western bird . these colors may also be noticeable as a flash of yellow or red in the wings when they fly . both have a white rump under a brown tail that is very conspicuous in flight .
a few woodpeckers seasonally leave the northern high elevations of their nesting range while others are
irruptive
species , like some hawks and owls , which will move hundreds or thousands of miles based on their food supply .
hutto , r . l . and j . s . young . 1999 . habitat relationships of landbirds in the northern region , usda forest service , rocky mountain research station rmrs - gtr - 32 . 72 p .
this brown woodpecker flashes bright colors under the wings and tail when it flies . its ringing calls and short bursts of drumming can be heard in spring almost throughout north america . two very different - looking forms - - yellow - shafted flicker in the east and north , and red - shafted flicker in the west - - were once considered separate species . they interbreed wherever their ranges come in contact . on the western great plains , there is a broad zone where all the flickers are intergrades between red - shafted and yellow - shafted .
this woodpecker ranges from alaska eastward to quebec , then south throughout the entire united states . northern flickers are migratory and winter in the southern part of this range and in northern mexico ( palmer and fowler 1975 , farrand , jr . 1988 , winkler et al . 1995 ) . in addition , these woodpeckers are found on grand cayman , cuba , and range as far south as the highlands of nicaragua ( winkler et al . 1995 ) .
northern flickers are active during the day . they protect territories that may include small family groups . male flickers recognize females by sight . to protect their mates or territories , birds of the same sex become aggressive towards each other .
male northern flickers of the western form have a red malar stripe extending downward and rearward from the base of the bill . males of the eastern form have a black malar stripe and a red patch on the rear of the crown .
• like most woodpeckers , northern flickers drum on objects as a form of communication and territory defense . in such cases , the object is to make as loud a noise as possible , and that’s why woodpeckers sometimes drum on metal objects .
northern flickers are partially migratory . red - shafted flickers tend to over - winter on their breeding grounds or migrate shorter distances than yellow - shafted flickers , but both tend to withdraw from higher elevations and winter in the western washington lowlands . yellow - shafted flickers , which are strongly migratory , become more common in washington , especially along the outer coast , in winter . this increase is probably due largely to yellow - shafted flickers that have migrated to washington from alaska and the northern rocky mountains .
the breeding season occurs from february to july . the nest is made in dead tree trunks , dead parts of live trees , or telephone poles . northern flickers will also build nests in nestboxes . nests are usually built below 3 meters above the ground .
northern flickers play an important role in forested ecosystems by excavating nesting and roosting holes that are subsequently used by other birds , animals , and reptiles that cannot make their own . they are abundant and widespread throughout their range and are the most common woodpecker in washington . the spread of residential development , roads , and the increasing fragmentation of the forest have increased the amount of habitat for northern flickers . however slight declines have been observed recently , which may be due to competition with european starlings for nest holes .
hutto , r . l . , and j . s . young . 1999 . habitat relationships of landbirds in the northern region , usda forest service . u . s . forest service general technical report rmrs - gtr - 32 , ogden , utah .
open water during these winter months seems to attract them almost more than the backyard bird feeders do . most reports we receive are flickers visiting a bird bath . i have a 16 foot shallow stream between two small reservoirs in my backyard running over two waterfalls , even at thirty below windshield temperatures . you can just about count on multiple daily visits by a flicker , and each time it is just as exciting as the last . at a recent bird feeding workshop we conducted in columbus for the central community college extended learning services , several attendees asked about witnessing these large birds at their bird baths . it was the flicker .
open forests , woodlots , groves , towns , semi - open country . with its wide range , from alaska to nicaragua , the flicker can be found in almost any habitat with trees . tends to avoid dense unbroken forest , requiring some open ground for foraging . may be in very open country with few trees .
mcclelland , b . r . 1977 . relationships between hole - nesting birds , forest snags and decay in western larch - douglas fir forests of the northern rocky mountains . ph . d . thesis . , univ . of montana , missoula . 483 pp .
northern flickers can be found throughout north america in parks , suburbs , farmlands , woodlands , and deserts . their appearance differs depending on where they live . in the east the bird is know as the yellow - shafted since it has yellow under its wings .
vocalizations : the low - pitched song of the northern flicker is long and strong series of
kwikwikwikwik
notes . on the breeding grounds , their call notes are loud and repeated ,
flick
or
flicker .
they also give a shrill , descending
kee - oo
or
klee - yer
call year - round . while their drumming is moderate to fast in speed , the pattern is variable . nests : northern flickers nest within a variety of deep cavities that are used perennially . cavities such as bank swallow burrows , kingfisher holes or nest boxes may be used , though holes chiseled into trunks or large branches of trees and snags are preferred . while males tend to select the site , cavities are excavated by both sexes in about 12 days . occasionally , squirrels , starlings , screech owls or kestrels take over these excavations , displacing the poor flickers ! a clutch consists of 3 - 12 , 28mm , white eggs that are unmarked . although both parents incubate the clutch for 11 - 14 days , the female does most of the sitting and brooding . offspring fledge in 25 - 28 days post - hatching and are reared by both parents .
populations are not seriously endangered by human activity , although human activity sometimes destroys their habitat . few conservation measures are being taken because northern flickers are not recognized as endangered . as a migratory north american bird they are protected by the u . s . migratory bird act .
] . other climatic variables , such as rain , and cold temperatures are less likely than snow cover to restrict access to ground - dwelling arthropods . our data show that migration in flickers is not leapfrog or chain migration and indicate that more northern populations must travel longer distances to reach locations that remain snow - free during winter creating an overlap in the wintering sites of both southern - and northern - breeding individuals . among species with a large geographical breeding range , it is common for migration propensity to vary with latitude as we found in flickers [
description : northern flicker has a grey - brown barred back , and white rump . male has a tan head , grey crown , red nape , black moustache and a black crescent on the breast . the underparts are light tan with dense black spotting ( lower breast , flanks and belly ) . the tail is black - tipped . undertail coverts and wing lining are yellow . in flight , we can see its white rump patch and its largely yellow underwing . the bill is strong , straight and chisel - shaped . the greenish - grey legs are short , and the feet are zygodactylous . claws are long .
it prefers to feed on the ground , where it hops awkwardly . to feed , it uses its long barbed tongue to lap up the ants . we can find it on dead trees where it moves as tits . it feeds mainly on ants and larvae , but also other insects , spiders , molluscs and some crustaceans . in winter , it consumes fruits , berries , seeds and acorns . usually seen alone , in pairs or in family groups , it may feed in small flocks during the migrations . the northern flicker is one of the few north american woodpeckers that are strongly migratory , mainly the northernmost populations .
male flickers recognize females by sight . to protect his mate or territory , birds of the same sex become aggressive toward each other ( palmer and fowler 1975 ) . aggressive displays such as
bill directing
or
bill poking
are used by flickers . that is , a flicker may point his bill at a rival with his head inclined forward , or actually peck at an opponent . a more aggressive display is
head swinging ,
whereby a flicker will use side - to - side movements of his head and body against an opponent . there is also a
head bobbing
display that may be used . sometimes tail spreading accompanies head swinging or bobbing displays ( short 1982 , bent 1992 ) .
northern flickers mainly consume insects and invertebrates , such as grasshoppers , crickets , ants , termites , wasps , aphids , beetles and their larvae , caterpillars , and spiders . they also consume fruits in the fall and winter , as well as weed seeds , acorns , and other types of nuts .
northern yellow - shafted flickers from alaska and canada strongly migratory , most traveling east and then south . big flights move down atlantic coast in fall , migrating by day . red - shafted flickers often migrate shorter distances , moving southward and from mountains into lowlands ; some spread eastward on great plains in winter .
) . many researchers have reported on aspects of behavior and nest use by northern flickers as part of general studies of cavity - nesting birds . recently , such interest has intensified as flickers have been recognized as
keystone
excavators that may influence the abundance of secondary cavity - nestering species in forest systems (
northern flickers make a loud , rolling rattle with a piercing tone that rises and falls in volume several times . the song lasts 7 or 8 seconds and is quite similar to the call of the pileated woodpecker . you’ll hear it in the spring and early summer , while pairs are forming and birds are establishing their territories .
spring is on its way when the loud joyful call of the flicker :
wicker , wicker , wicker
, echoes through the woodlands . males are known for drumming in long continuous rolls made by rapid blows with his bill . male flickers will often return to their favorite drumming spot where most likely it is the loudest and noisiest spot . flickers are found in southern states and east of the rocky mountains .
flight : the flight of a flicker is preformed in a straighter manner than that of any other woodpecker . their migrations are performed at night , even during the coldest winters . when passing from one tree to another on wing , they also fly in a straight line , until right before they land , they then suddenly raise themselves a few feet and fasten themselves to the bark of the trunk by their claws and tail .
birds exhibit diverse strategies for migrating between their breeding and wintering sites , such as variation in routes , timing and distances travelled . patterns of migration can be described at different taxonomic and spatial scales and vary between species , between populations and also within populations [ 1 ] . many individuals in the northern hemisphere show roughly north–south parallel movements meaning that western - breeding populations winter farther west than eastern - breeding populations , on a continental scale [ 2 – 5 ] . however , cases where eastern and western populations cross - over during migration are also known [ 6 ] . populations may also differ in their propensity to migrate based on latitude . for example , northern populations of european robins ( erithacus rubecula ) are migratory , whereas southern populations are resident [ 7 ] . in other cases ‘leapfrog’ migrations may occur where northern - breeding populations winter at more southerly latitudes than do the southern - breeding populations [ 8 ] . chain migration , in contrast to ‘leapfrog’ migration , occurs when winter populations occur in the same north–south sequence as breeding populations [ 1 ] .


the siamese fireback ( lophura diardi ) also known as diard 's fireback is a fairly large , approximately 80 cm long , pheasant .

the male has a grey plumage with an extensive red facial skin , crimson legs and feet , ornamental black crest feathers , reddish brown iris and long curved blackish tail .

the female is a brown bird with blackish wing and tail feathers .

the siamese fireback is distributed to the lowland and evergreen forests of cambodia , laos , thailand and vietnam in southeast asia .

this species is also designated as the national bird of thailand .

the female usually lays between four and eight rosy eggs .

the scientific name commemorates the french naturalist pierre-médard diard .

siamese fireback

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the siamese fireback is thought to be omnivorous , feeding on an array of fallen fruits and berries , as well as insects , worms and small land - crabs ( 4 ) .
the siamese fireback is currently known to occur in just two protected areas , nam bai cat tien national park in vietnam and xe pian national protected area in laos ( 4 ) .
: fireback hens , despite not being colorful , their unique markings make them more attractive than other pheasant hens . the siamese fireback hen has no crest , her facial wattles are smaller than the male ' s , but just as bright . the head , throat , chin and neck are grayish - brown ; the upper back and upper breast are bright chestnut . the lower back , wings and tail are chestnut , vermiculated with white and black . the bill is dark gray and the legs and feet are red .
: this species was once readily available in america , but has somewhat declined over the last 15 years . they do best in a large planted aviary with lots of shade to simulate the forests for which they naturally inhabit . siamese fireback will require good shelter and heat during the colder months in northern climates . provide the birds with plenty of green food and mealworms .
mcgowan , p . j . k . & kirwan , g . m . ( 2018 ) . siamese fireback ( lophura diardi ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
the siamese fireback is threatened by habitat loss and overexploitation for food and sport ( 4 ) . although this pheasant seems to tolerate considerable degradation of its forest habitat , extensive lowland forest destruction within its range is a concern for this lowland specialist ( 4 ) ( 5 ) . numbers have greatly declined during the past half century and its range has contracted , partly due to habitat changes , but probably more markedly due to excessive hunting and snaring ( 5 ) ( 6 ) .
a lowland resident of evergreen , semi - evergreen and bamboo forest , second - growth and scrub , often seen near open patches such as roads and tracks through the forest . chiefly found below 500 m above sea level , but occasionally up to 800 m , and perhaps even 1 , 150 m ( 4 ) ( 5 ) . the siamese fireback appears to tolerate some degradation of its forest habitat , such as moderate logging and cultivated fields in small clearings ( 5 ) ( 6 ) .
the siamese fireback is thought to be omnivorous , feeding on an array of fallen fruits and berries , as well as insects , worms and small land - crabs ( 4 ) . little information is available on the breeding behaviour of this shy bird in the wild , other than that eggs have been collected between mid - april and late june , and that one nest was situated on the ground in a hollow at the base of a tree . clutches seem to contain between four and eight eggs , and are incubated for 24 to 25 days in captivity ( 4 ) . males attain adult plumage in their first year but do not typically breed until their third ( 3 ) . like other
: very beautiful bird that will attain its adult plumage the first year . the crest is long and made up of purple - black feathers . the facial wattles are bright red , the throat , head and face behind the wattles are black . the breast , neck and upper back is gray with very fine vermiculations . the middle of the back is bright yellow ( hence the name
fireback
) , the lower back is metallic blue with chestnut fringes . the tail is long and curved with metallic black , blue and green sheens . the wings are gray with black and white streaks ; the belly and lower areas are black . the bill is yellow , legs and feet red . like other species of
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del hoyo , j . , collar , n . j . , christie , d . a . , elliott , a . and fishpool , l . d . c . 2014 . hbw and birdlife international illustrated checklist of the birds of the world . volume 1 : non - passerines . lynx edicions birdlife international , barcelona , spain and cambridge , uk .
60 - 80 cm . male is a slender grey pheasant with an irridescent green ( can appear black ) tail . long red legs and facial skin . prominent coronal tuft . female lacks crest , has a rufous mantle and underparts and banded wings and tail .
this species is listed as least concern as it is more resilient to the threats of habitat alteration and hunting pressure than once thought , thus the rate of population decline is not suspected to be as rapid as was indicated . as habitat loss and hunting are ongoing threats , the population is suspected to be undergoing a slow to moderate decline ; however , this is not thought to approach the threshold for vulnerable . the species is not thought to approach the thresholds for vulnerable under any of the other criteria .
lophura diardi is found in thailand ( uncommon to locally common resident , principally in the north - east and south - east , c . 5 , 000 individuals estimated ) , laos ( widespread and locally abundant , but heavily snared ) , cambodia ( locally common and widespread ) and vietnam ( locally common and widespread in central and southern regions ) . its total population size has not been recently estimated , although the population in cambodia may be conservatively estimated at c . 2 , 000 individuals ( f . goes in litt . 2011 ) . the species is suspected to be undergoing a slow to moderate decline owing to continued habitat loss and hunting pressure .
the total population is suspected to number 20 , 000 - 49 , 999 individuals based on a conservative estimate of c . 2 , 000 individuals in cambodia ( f . goes
2011 ) and an estimate of c . 5 , 000 individuals in thailand .
this species is suspected to be experiencing a slow to moderate population decline owing to continued habitat loss and degradation and on - going hunting pressure .
it occurs in evergreen , semi - evergreen and bamboo forest , secondary growth and scrub , often near roads and tracks through the forest , chiefly in the plains and foothills to 500 m , but occasionally up to 800 m , and perhaps 1 , 150 m . it seems able to tolerate considerable degradation of its forest habitat . the species occurs in small groups which are presumed to be family parties .
the species occurs in a number of protected areas , however they often provide only limited protection against hunting and logging activities ( s . mahood
increase the existing protected area network . support governments in their efforts to control illegal logging in south - east asia . determine the current global population size and trend . support efforts to tackle the issue of hunting inside protected areas .
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little information is available on the breeding behaviour of this shy bird in the wild , other than that eggs have been collected between mid - april and late june , and that one nest was situated on the ground in a hollow at the base of a tree . clutches seem to contain between four and eight eggs , and are incubated for 24 to 25 days in captivity ( 4 ) . males attain adult plumage in their first year but do not typically breed until their third ( 3 ) . like other lophura pheasants , males of this species perform courtship displays in which they whistle and whirr their wings ( 2 ) .
found in southeast asia , from east myanmar , through north , central and east thailand , central and south laos , north and central cambodia to central vietnam ( 4 ) .
classified as near threatened ( nt ) on the iucn red list 2006 ( 1 ) .
del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . & sargatal , j . ( 1994 ) handbook of the birds of the world - new world vultures to guineafowl . vol . 2 . lynx edicions , barcelona .
this information is awaiting authentication by a species expert , and will be updated as soon as possible . if you are able to help please contact : arkive @ urltoken
omnivore an organism that feeds on both plants and animals . vermiculations wormlike ; often used to describe fine , wavy lines of colour on bird feathers . wattle bare fleshy skin that hangs from the bill , throat or eye of birds .
delacour , j . ( 1951 ) the pheasants of the world . country life ltd . , london .
del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . and sargatal , j . ( 1994 ) handbook of the birds of the world - new world vultures to guineafowl . vol . 2 . lynx edicions , barcelona .
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has alternatively been placed in genus diardigallus , but recent genetic work found no evidence that lophura as currently constituted is polyphyletic # r . the same work identified five clades within lophura , one of which consists of present species and l . ignita ( with l . rufa ) # r . monotypic .
e myanmar through n , c & se thailand , c & s laos and n & c cambodia to c & s vietnam .
male c . 80 cm ( tail 33–36 cm ) , one bird 1420 g ; female c . 60 cm ( tail 22–26 cm ) , 680–1025 g . male distinctive , with mostly grey upperparts , large wattles . . .
male gives loud whistling call in advertisement and a repeated “pee - yu pee - yu” ; male . . .
a lowland forest resident . in thailand and laos , inhabits primary and secondary evergreen forest , . . .
believed to be omnivorous , feeding on a variety of fallen fruits and berries , and also insects , worms , small land crabs , etc . also claimed . . .
mating system apparently polygamous , with dominant male largely monopolizing proximity , and therefore access to all the females in a group . . .
not globally threatened ( least concern ) . previously considered near threatened . mace lande : vulnerable . based on a recent population estimate for whole of thailand of c . 5000 . . .
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includes , in tetraonini , all taxa that have commonly been separated in families meleagrididae and tetraonidae .
broad molecular study of phasianidae found that lophura forms , together with crossoptilon , one branch of a subclade that also comprises pucrasia , syrmaticus , chrysolophus and phasianus # r .
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recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : lophura diardi . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 . recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species : birdlife international ( 2018 ) iucn red list for birds . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 .
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pheasants , males of this species perform courtship displays in which they whistle and whirr their wings ( 2 ) .
kari pihlaviita marked the finnish common name
savufasaani
from
lophura diardi ( bonaparte , 1856 )
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: very dense forests , bamboo and evergreen from sea - level to 2 , 000 feet .
, they can grow fairly long spurs that the keeper will need to keep trimmed to prevent injuries to the hen when breeding .
: not much is known of this specie ' s status in the wild , but with rapid deforestation in its native lands , its outlook can not be good .
the species is named for the french naturalist & explorer pierre - medard diard ( 1794 - 1863 ) by ornithologist charles lucien bonaparte who first described the species 1856 .
: third year , but i ' ve heard from those who have had some second year males that were fertile . males will attain adult plumage the first year , but will have smaller tails than mature birds .
( l to r ) : 1 , jan harteman ; 2 , myles lamont ; 3 , mel royal .
. 2nd ed . , world pheasant association and spur publications , hindhead , u . k .
robson , c . 2002 . birds of thailand . princeton university press , princeton , nj .
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