northern flicker feather Identification All About Birds
Size shape
Flickers are fairly large woodpeckers with a thin, rounded head, a slightly curved bill and a long, flared tail that tapers to a point.
RELATIVE SIZE
About half the size of a hairy woodpecker
Relative size between robin and crow
between robin and crow
MEASUREMENTS
Both sexes
Length: 11.0-12.2 in (28-31 cm)
Weight: 3.9-5.6 oz (110-160 g)
Wingspan: 16.5-20.1 inches (42-51 cm)
Colour pattern
Sparkles appear overall brownish with a white rump patch that is clearly visible in flight and often visible when perched. The underside of the wing and tail feathers are bright yellow, for eastern birds, or red, for western birds. On closer inspection, you will see that the brown plumage is richly decorated with black dots, bars and crescents.
northern shimmer
Behaviour
Northern Flickers spend a lot of time on the ground and when in trees they often perch upright on horizontal branches instead of leaning against their tails on a trunk. They fly up and down a path using heavy flaps interspersed with glides, like many woodpeckers.
Habitat
Look for flickers in open habitats near trees, including woods, edges, yards and parks. In the west, you can find them in mountain forests up to the tree line.
Regional differences
North America has two easily distinguishable breeds of northern twinklers: the eastern yellow-stemmed form, which occurs in Texas and the Great Plains, and the western red-stemmed form.The main difference is the colour of the remiges, which is either lemon yellow or pinkish red.The yellow-stemmed forms have beige faces and grey crowns, and a red crescent on the nape. The red-stemmed forms have a grey face, a brown cap and no crescent on the nape of the neck, the males having a red moustache band. The hybrids appear to be intermediate and are common in the ranges of both groups.
Conservation status Although still abundant and widespread, recent surveys indicate a population decline over much of the range since the 1960s. Introduced starlings compete with flickers for freshly excavated nesting sites, may drive out flickers.
Woodpeckers of the family
Habitat Open forests, woodlands, copses, towns, semi-open countryside. With its wide range, from Alaska to Nicaragua, the flicker can be found in almost any habitat with trees. Tends to avoid the dense, unbroken forest, requiring open ground for foraging. Can be in a very open country with few trees.
This brown woodpecker displays bright colours under its wings and tail when flying. Its calls and short drumming bursts can be heard in spring throughout most of North America. Two very different-looking forms - the Yellow-spotted Sparrow in the east and north and the Red-spotted Sparrow in the west - were once considered separate species. They interbreed wherever their ranges come into contact. In the western Great Plains, there is a large area where all flickers fall between the red and yellow stems.
Photo gallery
Feeding behaviour
Feeds by jumping on the ground, climbing tree trunks and branches, occasionally flying up to catch insects in the air. Will also perch in outer branches to eat fruit and berries. Has been reported catching young bats leaving their roost in Wyoming.
Eggs
5-8, sometimes 3-12. White. Incubation is by both sexes (male incubates at night and part of the day), 11-16 days. Young Both parents feed the young by regurgitation. Young leaves nest about 4 weeks after hatching, are first fed by parents, then follow them to good feeding sites. 1 brood per year, or 2 in the south.
Young Both parents feed the young by regurgitation. Young leaves nest about 4 weeks after hatching, are first fed by parents, then follow them to good feeding sites. 1 brood per year, or 2 in the south.
Diet
Mainly ants and other insects. Probably eats ants more frequently than any other North American bird. It also eats beetles, termites, caterpillars and other insects.. It eats a lot of fruit and berries, especially in autumn and winter, and sometimes eats seeds and nuts
Nesting
Males defend the Breeding males defend the nesting area by shouting, drumming and several aggressive displays, including shaking the head back and forth, opening the wings and spreading the tail to show a shiny underside.Courtship offers are generally similar. .Tree cavities are usually in dead wood; pine, poplar and willow are among the preferred trees. Cavity dug by both sexes, usually 6 to 20 feet above the ground, sometimes much higher (up to 100 feet or more).
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