Colaptes auratus
The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a striking, medium-sized North American woodpecker, distinct for its terrestrial foraging habits. Measuring 28-36 cm (11-14 in) in length with a wingspan of 42-51 cm (16.5-20 in) and weighing 97-150 g (3.4-5.3 oz), its plumage is a beautiful mosaic of brown barred upperparts, spotted underparts, and a prominent black crescent bib. Key identification marks include a conspicuous white rump visible in flight and, crucially, bright yellow underwing and u...
Found in open woodlands, forest edges, parklands, suburban areas, savannas, and even grasslands with scattered trees, typically at elevations from sea level up to 3,300 meters (10,000 feet) in mountainous regions.
Primarily myrmecophagous, consuming vast quantities of ants and their larvae, excavated from the ground using their long, sticky tongue; also feeds on other insects, berries, fruits, and seeds, especially in winter.
Northern Flickers are diurnal and primarily active from dawn to dusk, often roosting in tree cavities at night. Unlike most woodpeckers, they spend a significant amount of time foraging on the ground, probing for ants and other insects with their specialized bills and long, barbed tongues. Their ...
The Northern Flicker boasts one of the largest ranges of any North American woodpecker, extending across much of the continent. Its breeding range spans from the treeline in Alaska and northern Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut) eastward to Labrador and Newfoundland, south through the...
Least Concern
- The Northern Flicker is one of the few woodpecker species that regularly forages on the ground, primarily for ants. - Its tongue can extend up to 5 inches beyond its bill, thanks to a unique bone structure that wraps around its skull. - There's a well-known 'hybrid zone' in the Great Plains whe...