Tree Clinging

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus
Northern Flicker thumbnail
Length: 13 in. (32 cm )
This large and common woodpecker rarely uses trees for feeding like respectable woodpeckers. Instead it spends almost all its feeding time on the ground where it specializes on eating ants. During the winter, however, it will also consume nuts, grain and seeds. It is noisy and uses its long and durable bill to make loud drumming sounds on hollow branches, lampposts, and metal roofs. The Northern Flicker uses a wide range of holes and cavities in which to make its nest - including snags, telephone poles, houses, haystacks and nest boxes. They even have been known to steal river bank nest holes from kingfishers and bank swallows.

The four-digit banding code is RSFL.

Male | Barb Winterfield

Female | Brendon Grice

Male | CJ Kazilek

Female | CJ Kazilek


Fir forest

Oak-pine woodland

Ponderosa Pine Forest

Savanna

Urban city
Bird Sound Type: Buzzing
Sex of Bird: Male
Sonogram Large:
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Bird Sound Type: Buzzing
Sex of Bird: Male
Sonogram Large:
Sonogram Zoom:
Bird Sound Type: Buzzing
Sex of Bird: Male
Sonogram Large:
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View Citation

You may need to edit author's name to meet the style formats, which are in most cases "Last name, First name."

Bibliographic details:

  • Article: Northern Flicker
  • Author(s): Dr. Biology
  • Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
  • Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
  • Date published: July 13, 2017
  • Date accessed: March 26, 2024
  • Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/northern-flicker

APA Style

Dr. Biology. (2017, July 13). Northern Flicker. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved March 26, 2024 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/northern-flicker

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Dr. Biology. "Northern Flicker". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 July, 2017. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/northern-flicker

MLA 2017 Style

Dr. Biology. "Northern Flicker". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 Jul 2017. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 26 Mar 2024. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/northern-flicker

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
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