The common flicker, also known as the northern flicker, is a medium-sized member of the woodpecker family. This bird can be found across most of North America, as well as certain parts of Central America, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands. It stands out from other woodpecker species as it is one of the few that actually undergoes migration. With such an array of names, it’s no wonder the common flicker has over 100 common aliases. Some of these include yellowhammer (which should not be confused with the Eurasian yellowhammer), clape, gaffer woodpecker, harry-wicket, heigh-ho, wake-up, walk-up, wick-up, yarrup, and gawker bird. These names often come from people’s attempts to mimic the unique calls of this bird. Additionally, it’s worth noting that in Alabama, the common flicker holds the distinguished title of being the state bird, and is affectionately referred to as the “yellowhammer.”
The adult northern flicker is characterized by its brown color and black bars on its back and wings. This mid- to large-sized bird typically measures between 28 and 36 cm in length and has a wingspan of 42 to 54 cm. Its body mass can range from 86 to 167 g. Scientific measurements reveal that its wing bone spans from 12.2 to 17.1 cm, its tail measures between 7.5 and 11.5 cm, its bill ranges from 2.2 to 4.3 cm, and its tarsus is 2.2 to 3.1 cm long. The largest specimens are found in the northern regions like Alaska and Labrador, while the smallest are from Grand Cayman Island. A distinctive feature of this bird is the black patch on its upper breast, along with beige coloration and black spots on its lower breast and belly. Male flickers have a black or red mustachial stripe near the base of their beak, depending on their location within the species’ range, while females lack this stripe. In flight, the bird’s tail appears dark on top and transitions to a white rump. The plumage can vary among different subspecies.
The Audubon field guide highlights that flickers have a unique feeding habit among woodpeckers as they frequently search for food on the ground. They use their beak to probe the soil and sometimes catch insects while in flight. Insect consumption forms a significant portion of their diet, with ants alone making up around 45%. They also consume other invertebrates such as flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, and snails. During the winter, Northern flickers rely more on berries and seeds, including those from poison ivy, poison oak, dogwood, sumac, wild cherry and grape, bayberries, hackberries, elderberries, as well as sunflower and thistle seeds. When searching for food, they are known to break into underground ant colonies and even break up cow dung to access the insects within. Remarkably, their tongues can extend up to 50 mm (2 in) beyond their bill to capture prey.
Natural Habitat:
Northern flickers can be commonly found in various open habitats near trees, such as woodlands, forest edges, residential yards, and parks. In the western regions of the United States, they can even be spotted in mountain forests that reach up to the tree line. Similar to other woodpecker species, Northern flickers usually build their nests in tree holes. However, there have been rare instances where they have repurposed abandoned burrows previously occupied by belted kingfishers or bank swallows. Both male and female Northern flickers participate in excavating the nest. The entrance hole typically has a diameter of around 8 cm (3 inches), while the cavity itself measures approximately 33-41 cm (13-16 inches) in depth. The lower section of the cavity expands to accommodate the eggs and the adult incubating them. Internally, the cavity is relatively bare, except for a layer of wood chips acting as bedding for the eggs and hatchlings. When the nestlings reach about 17 days old, they transition to clinging onto the cavity walls instead of resting on the floor. It’s worth noting that they may also create cavities inside human residences, particularly those constructed with stucco or weak wooden siding.
Lifespan:
In 2006, a comprehensive study was conducted to analyze the lifespan of male and female northern flickers. Over a period of six years, researchers utilized capture-tag-recapture techniques to track the mortality rates. Astonishingly, the findings revealed that a mere one to two birds out of every 300 adult flickers reached the age of seven or beyond. These results were in line with a mortality model that had predicted a 0.6% survival rate over a seven-year span. Interestingly, there were no discernible disparities between the survival rates of males and females within the overall population. On a separate note, the record for the oldest “yellow-shafted” northern flicker stands at an impressive 9 years and 2 months, while the oldest “red-shafted” northern flicker lived to be a remarkable 8 years and 9 months old.
Northern flickers often gather in flocks during their migration, and this behavior continues even when they are in unfamiliar areas. Interestingly, about 75% of these birds choose to spend their nights in cavities during migration, just like they do when they are not on the move. It is worth noting that the majority of Northern flickers have a tendency to reuse their nest cavities instead of creating new ones each breeding season. Additionally, breeding pairs of Northern flickers generally show a strong attachment to their previous year’s nest cavity, consistently returning to the same spot year after year.
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