Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) lives in open woodland edges across North America, Central America, Cuba, Cayman Islands. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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A real field recording of the Northern Flicker, made in the wild.
A northern flicker can stretch its tongue, darting out 50 mm (2 in) to snag insects hidden in soil or wood. This extra-long tongue lets it pull ant larvae from underground colonies and even break up cow dung to eat the insects inside. up to 45 % of its diet.
Northern flickers are among the few woodpeckers that regularly feed on the ground, probing soil for ant larvae and even breaking open cow dung to reach hidden insects. This ground-foraging habit forces them to migrate to snow-free wintering sites, explaining why individuals breeding farther north travel farther south and why females tend to winter farther north than males, reflecting differing parental investment strategies.
Only about one to two flickers out of every 300 adults survive to age seven or older, a 0.6 % seven-year survival rate confirmed by a six-year capture-recapture study. The longest-recorded individuals lived 9 years 2 months (yellow-shafted) and 8 years 9 months (red-shafted). Typically one to two clutches of six to eight eggs each breeding season.
Northern flickers excavate nest cavities about 8 cm (3 in) wide and 33-41 cm (13-16 in) deep, often reusing the same hole year after year. About 75 % of migrating birds spend nights in a cavity, even in unfamiliar locations, and breeding pairs show strong site fidelity, returning to the exact cavity used previously. This cavity-nesting behavior not only protects their own young but also creates ready-made homes for other cavity-nesting birds and squirrels.
A typical adult flicker measures 28-36 cm (11-14 in) long with a wingspan of 42-54 cm (16½, 21½ in) and weighs between 86 and 167 g (3-5 7⁄8 oz). The largest birds are found in Alaska and Labrador, while the smallest live on Grand Cayman.
Sources
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RangeNorth America, Central America, Cuba, Cayman Islands
HabitatOpen woodland edges
DietInsects and seeds
About the Northern Flicker
As the Northern Flicker takes to the skies, its wings beat in a slow, deliberate rhythm, casting a hypnotic spell over the forest floor below, where the rustle of leaves and snapping of twigs betray the bird's relentless pursuit of insects and grubs. With its striking yellow or red undersides flashing like a beacon, the flicker careens through the trees, its agile form weaving in and out of the shadows with an air of effortless nonchalance. In this sun-dappled world, the Northern Flicker reigns supreme, a whirlwind of color and energy that embodies the very essence of wildness.
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