Northern Flicker Photo Gallery
Male (Yellow-shafted)
Large woodpecker with a black bib and spotted belly. Males in the East have a red nape, a black whisker, and yellow shafts on the flight and tail feathers.
© Warren Lynn / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, January 15, 2014Male (Red-shafted)
Males in the West have a red whisker while those in the East have a black whisker. The upperparts are mostly brownish-gray with black barring. White rump sometimes visible while perched.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 07, 2018Adult male (Red-shafted)
A large woodpecker with black barring on the back, a spotted belly, and a black band across the breast. Male "Red-shafted" Northern Flicker has a gray face with a red whisker. Frequently seen on the ground.
© Liam Ragan / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 12, 2022Not all videos have soundFemale (Yellow-shafted)
In flight note the white rump patch. Birds in the East flash yellow shafts on the flight feathers and tail.
© Michael O'Brien / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, October 17, 2017Male (Red-shafted)
In flight, its white rump contrasts with the rest of the plumage. Individuals in the West have red shafts to the flight feathers and tail that are usually obvious in flight.
© Max Brodie / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 30, 2020Adult female (Yellow-shafted)
In spring and summer, rivals may face off with bills pointed upward in a display sometimes called a "fencing duel." The "Yellow-shafted" Northern Flicker has a tan face with a gray crown. Both "Yellow-shafted" and "Red-shafted" females lack males' facial whiskers.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 23, 2022Not all videos have soundMale (Yellow-shafted)
Shows a bold white rump in flight.
© Loyan Beausoleil / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 20, 2020Male (Red-shafted)
The red underside of the tail can be obvious from certain angles on perched birds. Note the red whisker on males in the West.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryNevada, October 08, 2015Adult male (Yellow-shafted)
Male "Yellow-shafted" Northern Flicker has black facial whiskers (as opposed to the red whiskers of male "Red-shafted"). In addition to their terrestrial foraging habits, Northern Flickers also dust bathe and "ant"—intentionally smear ants over their feathers—on the ground.
© Dan O'Brien / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 22, 2021Not all videos have soundMale (Yellow-shafted)
Regularly forages on the ground.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryIowa, October 12, 2016Female (Red-shafted)
Found in a wide variety of both open and wooded habitats.
© abbi gomersall / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, December 11, 2016Adult male (Red-shafted)
Common calls include a loud "clear." Note the red underwings and white rump as the bird takes flight.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 13, 2020Not all videos have soundCompare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Woodpeckers(Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae)
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