Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker Information
Length: 12 - 14"
Habitat: Open woodlands, forest edges, wooded swamps, orchards, farmlands, roadsides, parks, residential areas.
Diet: Ants (staple), grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, crickets, and other insects.
Also wild fruits and berries, including wild cherries, dogwood berries, sumac fruit, and poison-ivy berries; some seeds and nuts.
Calls and sounds of the Northern Flicker
Additional Information
Northern FlickerPhotos, physical description, range, habitat, diet, life cycle, behavior, and sounds. (From NatureWorks)
Female "Yellow-shafted" Northern Flicker
By Reago & McClarren on Flickr, CC
Northern Flicker
Identification Tips
- Large woodpecker
- Brown back and wings barred with black
- Black crescent on upper breast
- Beige breast and belly spotted heavily with black
- White rump (obvious in flight)
- Tail dark above
- Two color forms, formerly separate species
- Breeds in eastern United States and Canada
- Tail and underwings are entirely yellow below, and retricies and primaries have yellow shafts
- Red crescent on nape
- Gray cap and nape
- Tan face, chin, and throat
- Adult male has black whisker
(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)
Breeding Bird Survey Map,
2011-2015
(Image credit: USGS)
Winter Map from eBird
Sightings of the Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker Nov-Mar over last 10 years