The tail feathers are straight and stiff. They allow the flicker to brace itself again the tree to prevent it from falling backwards. No nesting materials are used for the nest site except wood chips. Copulation occurs just before the nest is complete. The female will lay one egg per day.
Eggs are one fourth the size of a chicken egg and very white in color.
Incubation is done by the male and female with the male incubating the eggs at night. The young will hatch 11-16 days later. Both male and female flickers will feed the young. At 2-3 weeks the young are able to climb to the entrance of the hole. After 4 weeks the young birds will leave on their first flight which averages 163 feet.