I was wondering if anyone else is reporting a completely reddish-brown bird, a little bigger than a Robin, with a round red circle on the top of its head, and an upside down black triangle on its breast. No other markings were apparent to me, the 3 times I saw it eating on the ground. It seemed to be eating ants while the robins around it were doing worms. My neighbor seems to think I saw a Northern Flicker, but there were no bars or spots. It didn't stick around like the robin does - it took off right away when it got startled.
Flickers eat a lot of ants on the ground, on people's lawns.
The barring and spotting are not striking features, and are likely to go un-noticed in a quick look. The only other birds I can think of with an upside down black V on the front are Meadowlark and Dikcissel, and this sounds like neither of those very uncommon birds. I concur that flicker is the best bet, as what she did see is pretty well diagnostic of flicker. Judy K. Markowsky, Manager, Fields Pond Nature Center, Maine Audubon Society Monday, May 24. H.M. Monday, May 24.