Flickers are the only woodpeckers that frequently feed on open ground. This species flashes white rump and bright yellow color on their wings and tail in flight.
Males have a black mustache that females lack.
They consume more ants than any other bird species. Their old nest cavities are often used by other species, such as squirrels, eastern screech-owls and American kestrels. Flickers are declining significantly in parts of their range. Pileated woodpeckers are the largest of our resident woodpeckers. They are crow-sized.