Jaimi Truhler (2001)
Colaptes auratus
Field Marks:
The Northern Flicker (or Yellow-shafted Flicker) measures 12 1/2"-14" with a wingspan of 18 1/2"-21". The flickers feet are short with two toes in front and two toes behind. The bill is slightly arched that is strong and nearly as long as the head. The upper part of the head and hind neck are a light purplish-gray. Both sexes have a red crescent on the back of the head. The upper parts are brown, barred with black, a black crescent across the upper breast with numerous round black spots on the sides, lower breast and belly. The rest of the breast is a reddish-white color spotted with black. The male has a black streak along each side of the throat. The underside of the wings and tail are a rich yellow. The female lacks the black streaks on the throat and the black crescent on the breast is smaller. She is somewhat duller and is nearly the same size as the male. The colors on a flicker can vary depending on where they live. The yellow-shafted flicker has a red patch on its neck, yellow feathers on the inside of its wings, and the male has a black mustache. They can be found in the east and the north. The red-shafted flicker has pinkish feathers on the inside of its wings and the male has a red mustache. This one is most common in the west. While it was once thought that these were two separate species, there is population interbreeding. In areas where their ranges cross, hybrids are common and flickers may have orangish feathers, or other combinations from the two populations.
The flight of the flicker is strong and straighter than that of any other woodpecker. Their migrations are partial and performed at night, though many remain even in the severest winters.
General Habitat and Range:
The flicker can be found in much of North America: from the tree line in Canada and Alaska south to Nicaragua. Flickers in Alaska and Canada are migratory. They can be found in open forests, woodlots, and groves, but are also common in parks and gardens.
Behavior:
The flicker is the only woodpecker in North America that commonly finds food on the ground. The flicker's diet is mostly composed of insects, including ants. They also eat termites, beetles, caterpillars, fruits, and berries, but sometimes will eat seeds and nuts. During courtship, flickers peck or "hammer" on dead tree limbs or tin roofs. (In some parts of the United States, flickers are known as yellowhammers). They build their nests in holes in trees, telephone poles or birdhouses. They usually lay six to eight eggs. Both the male and female incubate the eggs for 11-16 days. Both parents feed the fledglings by regurgitation. Fledglings leave the nest about four weeks after hatching. At first, the parents continue to feed them, but they eventually learn to forage for food on their own. Flickers in the north have one brood a year; in the south they may have two broods.
I only observed the flicker for a short time. While I observed it, it was tree hopping. It flew in a straight line from one tree to the next and perched on the bark rather than a branch. In order to do that, it pulled up a bit before landing and fastened itself using its claws and tail.
Distribution in Oregon:
Flickers are very common. You can find them just about anywhere in Oregon but a good place to look might be your own backyard or a nearby park.
