Northern Flicker

(Colaptes auratus)

Conservation Status
Northern Flicker
Photo by Bill Reynolds
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Northern Flicker is a common large woodpecker. Adults average 12½ to 13 in length with a 20 wingspan.

The body and wings are grayish-brown. The wings and back are barred. The tail is black on the top. The underside of the wings and tail are yellow. The rump, only visible in flight, is white. The breast and belly are buff to whitish and are heavily covered with black spots. The breast has a large black crescent.

The crown and the nape of the neck are gray. There is a bright red crescent on the nape of the neck. The chin and throat are tan. The face is brownish to buff. The male has a prominent black mark behind the bill usually described as a “mustache stripe.” The bill is long.

This bird is often seen flying away from the observer, making it impossible to see the head and neck markings. In these situations the white rump, conspicuous in flight, is the most useful identification mark.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

12½ to 13 in length

20 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
 

The song is a loud and rapid wick-wick-wick-wick-wick-wick. Each note bends upward.

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
  Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is similar in size and shape but not in coloration. When flying away it does not show a white rump.  
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Open woodlands and forest edges, fields, and meadows; swamps in winter

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Late February to late November

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

Between February and July the male and female join together and excavate a new nest usually in a dead or dying deciduous tree, sometimes in a telephone pole or fence post. Less commonly, they will repair and reuse an existing cavity or use a birdhouse. Excavation takes about 2 weeks. The female lays 5 to 8 large, glossy white eggs. Both sexes incubate the eggs for 11 to 16 days, and after hatching, both sexes feed the young. Fledglings leave the nest 25 to 28 days after hatching.

 
     
 

Food

 
 

Mostly ants found on the ground. Also other insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, termites, wasps, aphids, beetles, beetle larvae, and caterpillars; spiders, In late fall and early spring they also eat cherries; berries, including dogwood, Virginia creeper, poison ivy, sumac, and hackberry; and nuts, including acorns. Overwintering individuals regularly visit suet feeders.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common to abundant migrant and breeder

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Piciformes (woodpeckers, barbets, and allies)  
 

Family

Picidae (woodpeckers)  
 

Subfamily

Picinae  
 

Genus

Colaptes (flickers and allies)  
       
 

In 1995 the American Ornithologist’s Union (AOU) split the Northern Flicker into two species, Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) and Gilded Flicker (Colaptes chrysoides).

 
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Some authorities, including the International Ornithologists’ Union (IOU), recognize ten subspecies (nine extant, one extinct). In this classification, Yellow Shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus luteus) is the only subspecies found in Minnesota. Other authorities recognize only two subspecies. In this classification, Yellow Shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus auratus) is the only subspecies found in Minnesota.

 
       
 

auratus group (Yellow Shafted Flicker)

Southeastern Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus auratus)

Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus luteus)

 

cafer group (Red Shafted Flicker)

Northern Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus cafer)

Southwestern Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus collaris)

Mexican Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus mexicanus)

Dwarf Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus nanus)

Guadalupe Flicker (Colaptes auratus rufipileus) (extinct)

 

chrysocaulosus group (Cuban Flicker)

Cuban Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus chrysocaulosus)

Grand Cayman Flicker (Colaptes auratus gundlachi)

 

mexicanoides group (Guatemalan Flicker)

Guatemalan Flicker (Colaptes auratus mexicanoides)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Dan W. Andree

 
 

Wood Ducks and a Northern Flicker at a pond...

I was filming the wood ducks and a northern flicker flew into view and went over by the ducks. It was at a pond in Norman County Mn. 9-17-23.

  Wood Duck  
 

Gregory Gilman

 
    Northern Flicker      
 

Audra Popp

 
 

Just hanging out under the deck

 
    Northern Flicker   Northern Flicker  
 

Wayne Rasmussen

 
 

Northern Flicker (Yellowtail) at Breezy Point Resort 2011. Seen on the point north of the resort on Pelican Lake.

  Northern Flicker  
 

Bill Reynolds

 
    Northern Flicker      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Northern Flicker
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
 
  Northern Flicker  
  Yellow-shafted Flicker
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Yellow-shafted Flicker  
  Northern Flicker
Craig A. Mullenbach
 
  Northern Flicker  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker Colaptes Auratus Auratus: Chicks Feed, Fly from Nest
Derek Grant
 
   
 
About

Published on Dec 2, 2013

This short video documents the lives of Northern (Yellow-Shafted) Flicker family over a 2 month period. Northern Flickers are ant eating woodpeckers that have a strong preference for nesting in tree cavities. Key Points: the stll at ~1:45 is a rare capture of the pair mating on a branch. The still at ~1:50 is an important part in the fledging process where the parent arrives at the nest to feed it's chicks and only feigns the feeding in hopes of luring it into leaving it's friendly confines. This causes the chicks to react aggressively in the midst of their hunger pang and the resultant a good peck to the stomach of the parent. If you look closely @ 7:33 and just after the chick's seventh chirp - you will see it fly from the nest. The still immediately following is of another chick leaving the nest.

   
  Yellow Shafted Flicker Tongue Action
seahue
 
   
 
About

Published on Feb 23, 2011

It's amazing what happens when you slow down the movie (50X); one can see the tongue...

Guest starring the tufted titmouse who demonstrates how to eat with ones feet...

   
  Yellow Shafted Flicker
Dean Martin
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jun 23, 2009

Feeding her young ones. Taken in my back yard

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Dan W. Andree
9/17/2023

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

I was filming the wood ducks and a northern flicker flew into view and went over by the ducks. It was at a pond in Norman County Mn. 9-17-23.

Pileated Woodpecker  
  Maggie E
9/2/2023

Location: Coon Rapids

I live in a Mobile Home with Coon Creek in my back yard. The Creek is an extension of Mississippi River I have lived here for over 20 years & Flicker has pecked at my home for over 10 of those years. I use Black Crow for scare & put up reflection tape. It helped for a year or two. They also keep good time. I had one year that he started at exactly 9am . My last resort and hoping will help I purchased spikes to install on my siding. Keeping fingers crossed this will send him far away.

Anyone with suggestions?

 
  John Valo
9/2/2023

If the flicker is attempting to excavate a cavity for nesting, then putting up an appropriate birdhouse nearby might help. However, flickers also drill in search of food, drum to attract a mate, or drum to establish a territory. Here are some links with suggestions for managing them:

How to Minimize Flicker Damage, Wild Birds Unlimited

Northern Flicker – Biology and Damage Management, Utah State University Extension

 
  Lisa D
1/22/2023

Location:  Long Lake, MN

It was sitting in a tree right near a window.  We have 2 suet feeders out, so it was probably on one of them.  Male.

 
  Lora
1/21/2023

Location: Inver Grove Heights

It was at our suet feeder.  It would flap its wings while positioning on the feeder and its bright yellow underside of its wings was such a fun surprise. 

 
  Audra Popp
4/27/2020

Location: Royalton, Benton County

Just hanging out under the deck

Northern Flicker  
  Gregory Gilman
4/8/2020

Location: Rochester, MN

Northern Flicker  
  Ben Walen
4/2 to 4/3/2020

Location: Minneapolis, Seward Neighborhood

2-3 in our yard

 
  J Miller
4/17/2019

Location: Plymouth

I have three of them hanging out.

 
  Laura Nelson
4/7/2019

Location: Lakeville, MN

sitting on our bird feeder pole & flew away into the trees

 
  Holly D
9/24/2018

Location: Slayton MN

 
  Kim Niederkorn
4/24/2018

Location: Vermillion MN

Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus luteus)

 
  Kim Gustafson
10/29/2016

Location: Eagan, MN

My first sighting of a Northern Flicker!  He was eating "hearts and parts" bird seed out of my Squirrel Buster Plus feeder.

 
  Holly G
9/16/2016

Location: Middle Rice Creek in New Brighton MN

 
  Wayne Rasmussen
5/3/2011

Location: Breezy Point Resort, Crow Wing County

Northern Flicker (Yellowtail) at Breezy Point Resort 2011. Seen on the point north of the resort on Pelican Lake.

Northern Flicker  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Afton State Park

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