Learn All About the Northern Flicker | Overview

In this video learn about the identification differences between the Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted Northern Flickers, what they eat, where you can find them, things you can do if they are damaging your home, and even ways you can help them in the fight against habitat loss.
Photos and video provided by the following:
(A-Z)
Alex Muench
Twitter / sharkbreadshark
Website alexmuen.ch/
Ebird ebird.org/profile/MTc4NzYzOQ/...
Andrew Hasz
Instagram / lakeskywatcher
Ashley Hale
KZbin / @backyardbeautynh
Facebook / backyard.beauty.nh
Instagram backyard.be...
Bassangler73
Flickr:www.flickr.com/photos/1436998...
Bob Carlyle
Website bobcarlylephotography.ca/
Instagram / bob.carlyle
Eleanor McDonie
Instagram / eleanorrosemcdonie
James McKittrick
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/1928594...
JJD Photography
Instagram / jjdphotography_li
Website www.jjdphotography.store/
Jason Moris
Instagram / morrisjasond
Joe McKenna
Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/7206322...
Larry Blew
Website www.lblewphotography.com/
Marilyn Vardy
Instagram: mjvardy
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/1473607...
Mark Boatright
Instagram / colossusmvc2
Marlene Trott
Instagram: / tiny_n8ture
Matthew Siefert
Instagram: / branches_brooks_and_bogs
Etsy store: etsy.com/shop/branchesbrooksnb...
Oregon Birdhouse
Website: www.oregonbirdhouse.com/
Facebook: / oregonbirdhousecompany
OvenBirder98
KZbin / @ovenbirder
Website miottawa.org/Parks/birding.htm
KZbin • Virtual Woodpecker Walk
Pacificnorthwestkate
KZbin / pacificnorthwestkate
Instagram / pacificnorthwestkate
Twitter / pnwkate
Raina Angelier
Facebook: / beachbucketbrigade
Craig Cooper
Gayle Highpine
Harris Stein
Kevin Ward
Maxime Touchette
Michele Rosenbaum
Mike McKeag
Paul Bigelow
Sara Hart
West Coast AN
Timestamps / Questions people may have:
00:00 Where to find a Northern Flicker
00:17 What does a Northern Flicker look like
00:40 What are the differences between Yellow and Red-shafted Northern Flickers
00:53 What do Northern Flickers look like continued
01:13 Continued: differences between Yellow and Red-shafted Northern Flickers
01:58 What birds look like a Northern Flicker
02:05 Where are Northern Flickers located and how to find one
03:14 What do Northern FLickers like to eat
03:59 How to attract a Northern Flicker
04:15 Northern Flicker calls and sounds explained
06:36 Northern Flicker mating and other nesting information
08:37 Northern Flicker population
09:03 How long does a Northern Flicker live
09:17 Problems that Northern Flickers face and conservation efforts
09:38 How to help Northern Flickers
10:05 What does it mean when you see a Northern Flicker
10:33 How to stop a Northern Flicker woodpecker from damaging a house
11:25 Lesleys closing thoughts on the Northern Flicker
Thumbnail:
Northern Flicker flying by AGAMI stock
Northern Flicker coming out of nest hole by William Krumpleman
Both are via canva.com pro subscription and have their backgrounds removed and replaced with the orange one as well "Northern Flicker" text was added
Canva.com/pro license www.canva.com/policies/free-m...
Audio:
Music: Castleshire - Chris Haugen via KZbin Audio Library
Northern Flicker call at intro by Aidan Place, XC542145. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org
Northern Flicker alls at 6:00 - 6:20 Thomas Ryder Payne, XC636252. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org
Links mentioned:
American Bird Conservancy
abcbirds.org
Pileated Woodpecker video
• The PILEATED WOODPECKE...
Why do woodpeckers like to hammer on houses and what can I do about it?
www.allaboutbirds.org/news/wh...
Northern Flicker Nest Box
Plan and Information
nestwatch.org/learn/all-about...
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If you have a sick or injured bird in your possession I can not help this bird in any way it is strongly advised to contact a local vet or wildlife official before any decisions are made. It is easy to do more harm than good when handling wildlife.
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For business inquiries or Post Office Box information
please contact Jamie at [e-mail]
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#LesleytheBirdNerd #NorthernFlicker #birds #birdwatching #birdphotography

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

🔴Pileated Woodpecker Overview video▶kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpS1oJ2fgJyjp9k

[@KrackerJack5586]

Excellent commentary on the Northern Flicker differences...well done now I have to venture over to my Pileated cousins 😃

[@jamesu3346]

Pest control salesman came by my door today saying he sprayed for ants at neighboring houses. I said I have Northern Flickers that eat my ants. Tried to educate him. Asked him to leave, I do not want your poison. My favourite bird when they started appearing 2 years ago.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Aww James thank you so much for trying to inform people. All we need to do is work with nature. It can all be a perfect balance

[@mc12358]

Yes anything that eats insects is welcomed in my yard too! Thank you for not poisoning the environment.

[@Sunshine-lg8su]

We have ants too… (oh well…. ) We refuse to poison them too. We also have mice that we have been trying to solve the mystery of how they get in the house …even tho we would rather not live with them we will NEVER POISON THEM. I trap and release and I’m sure the predators prefer their prey without poison in their system.

[@danielgeci4513]

I have a female red shafted northern flicker that nests in my Pennsylvania yard. It's the perfect place for her because i have a leaf litter and twig pile from downed branches I pile up. She loves to rifle thru that, but I also grow like 10 different types of berries and the one corner of my yard has ant problem. My yard literally has everything a northern flicker like to eat. The red breasted robins get the worms from the garden beds though lol. They literally line up in spring waiting for me to water the beds or disturb the soil then they swoop in and feast. They peck thru the straw mulch and gorge on earthworms and invasive jumping worms

[@penboyasgod6103]

@@Sunshine-lg8su Work on attracting owls with a birdhouse for them.

[@carole.ronning9318]

I saved a Red Shafted Flicker last Winter as he was hit by a car and stood by the side of the road wounded. I picked him up and proceeded to take him to the Veterinary . The x-ray showed that him left wing and his shoulder were injured along with his neck. My husband and I kept him in our house for five months. He showed healing after two months and we kept him longer as the Winter would not have been the time to release him. He recovered beautifully and we let him go this Spring. We believe we have seen him a handful of times, calling him by name, Fred. We are so pleased we could help him recoperate and continue his life! We loved him but he managed to keep a distance from us which was healthy for his next stage of life. Thank you for your wonderful video. From one Bird lover to another❤️

[@nickmulcahy9199]

Wow, remarkable story and courageous on your part to take in a wild animal (of any kind)

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

If you enjoyed the video - Liking, Leaving a comment, or sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, etc. helps out in a big way. From myself and my bird buddies, thank you ALL for watching. It's greatly appreciated!

[@stjjnr980]

Thank you for the video

[@moniw8]

Thank you! Loved it! Will share. I've enjoyed both Flickers on both coasts, and they are magical! Yes hard to catch, but so worth it, when you do! Having a backyard feeder with sunflower seeds helps! I scatter some on the ground too. Dang chipmunks get most of them, but I got the Morning Doves & Bleeding Hearts coming back now!

[@matthew-jy5jp]

Another amazing and very interesting video Lesley 😊

[@giffordkrivak859]

Love your videos as always. Keep up the good work!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

@@giffordkrivak859 thank you so much

[@randomvielleuse527]

I suffered a heart break a few years back and, in a way, this started my feeding local birds as a distraction. I had had some experience with a pet bird (a red bellied poicephalus who died way too young from an incurable disease) so I was already very sympathetic to birds and their plights in modern human environments. The first thing was to let a tree that died in our small back yard still stand. It became a great place for the hummingbirds to survey their domain, and I saw a lot of littler birds foraging in the bare branches. As my interest in our sadly neglected yard grew, I put out a couple of bird baths, and eventually bought hummingbird feeders. Then a couple of seed feeders... The birds were quite appreciative and I was thrilled to see them feeding, bathing, drinking, arguing, bringing their fledglings to our cat-less yard... This winter I put out two humming bird feeders on our second floor porch (almost wrote "perch"!), zip tied some pretty, dead branches to the railing for elevated places to invite the birds in, and then added a seed feeder and two suet cages. OMG. SO MANY BIRDS THIS WINTER! Including, but not limited to pileated and downy woodpeckers which I had never seen before. Then, we had Northern flickers! BIG groups of them! They first came to pillage the ants that had taken up residence in the yard- about six or seven of them came over a few days and basically ate all of them. :D Then these three types of birds found the suet feeders and wow, they LOVED that stuff! So fabulous to see them up close through our windows... The snow is gone now so they've scattered to find their usual food but they still stop by for a suet top up. Thank you so much for this video, and all your videos. I've learned so much from you and felt so encouraged to make our garden more and more bird friendly. I hope you have a wonderful new year!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Correction: Around 1:09 I say 30 inches in error I meant to say 30 centimeters (roughly 13 inches).

[@dennisjennings5459]

Thanks for such a great video well done. I have never seen red shafted flicker but have plenty of the yellow shafted in my area I put up a box for woodpeckers This year but no tackers maby next year.🕊️

[@bobpourri9647]

Too late! I already reinforced my bird feeder with metal trusses.

[@toddberg3892]

30 Canadian inches = 13 Imperial inches. ;^)

[@bheater2615]

Loved the video, lived in Michigan growing up and seen many of these amazing birds

[@scottmantooth8785]

*that would make for a really, really big flicker that's a given* *also we love our resident woodpeckers around here...so much fun to see and hear them messing about in the gutters*

[@juliechaud]

I have become quite connected to northern flickers this spring, as a number of pairs tried to nest in the walls of a nearby grocery store. The manager got a pest control company in and I was horrified, and I notified environment Canada to see what could be done - in the end an in-depth report was prepared and followed through with both Store and the pest control company, so I feel happy that I was able to possibly save some of the birds. Thank you for this great video Lesley; I always enjoy your videos!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Aww you're so sweet. I feel you so much because I'd be feeling the exact same way as you. Thanks for helping

[@juliechaud]

@@LesleytheBirdNerd Thank you for your response and your caring!

[@Birdlab]

The yellow shafted flickers are quite common on my property in Michigan. The metal rain cap on my chimney is one of their favorite drumming locations. It sounds like a machine gun and always startles me at first. But I am happy to have them here.

[@josephlilley9249]

Does it hurt it? I have one at my house right now and every day at day break for the last 3 days it drums on my gutter on the corner of my house right outside my room lol. I scared him off a few times, but I also don’t want to scare them off for good bc they eat allot of insects

[@Carabaraloo]

They like to dig out the ants from between the bricks in my patio. They end up pulling and preventing weeds, too! I love them. ❤️ That’s why I don’t spray for weeds anymore. I’m afraid I’ll hurt them!

[@garycarrigan7972]

Flickers also squash ants and preen their feathers with them. The formic acid found in ants act as a mite deterrent. A perfect system .

[@sorrycharlie5773]

Niiiice..😎

[@sherryannwilton76]

i did not know that, interesting.

[@nicksweeney5176]

They'll grasp them up, alive, and place them into their feathers; pissed off and squirtin'.

[@davidmasland5627]

@@nicksweeney5176 all bird's have feather lice. perhaps the ants are eating the lice then eaten by the bird?? I've seen them do this as well. Black ants inside rotting trees ??

[@nicksweeney5176]

@@davidmasland5627 Well, hmmmm...🤔💭💭💭 This might could be, this might just could be. There's also the angle of infuriated, resentful Ants being aggravated to point of hot murder, then being set loose all over the Bird, to hose everything down with Formic Acid, which kills small parasites quite handily.🤷🏻‍♂️

[@dizzylizzy6571]

I LOVE FLICKERS! I've been feeding them for years and years in my backyard in southeastern Michigan. They are such beautiful birds with a lovely call!!

[@angellas.1314]

Sad to hear of their decline. I need to cut down a tree, but I think I will just trim it way back instead. Thank you for this information!

[@treebeard7140]

Thank you to all the people who protect their natural environment and thanks for this video. I've noticed they "chuck" when they see me, skidish birds and very smart.

[@mickeybailey5147]

The "collar" under their chin helps me identify them from red bellies The collar reminds me of the late Ruth Bader Ginsberg, so the wife and I nicknamed these "Gins-Birds".

[@thatScoutdog]

I saw one of these for the first time in 2019 after the California fires and it inspired me to learn of birds, 2+ years lator I can name every bird call I hear and I keep a chickens

[@KillerCaitie]

Flickys are so cute!

[@EthantheRollerblader]

Yeah!

[@treebeard7140]

They are helpful friends

[@williamneill5441]

About fifty years ago I was lucky enough to rescue, raise, and release a nest of these amazing birds after a storm blew over their tree. Been a favorite ever since. Excellent video.

[@BirdsandGhibliFan]

How sweet! I’m glad that they were able to be released back in the wild in the end. Kudos! 👍

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Oh my gosh how wonderful. That had to be quite the experience. Thanks for helping them

[@fullercrowley]

Lesley, you're the best! I'm living in the Maine woods right now and was curious about this guy who's been showing up under the pines to pick up the seeds I throw out. Thanks to all who contributed!

[@affinityforanime]

I have sandy soil in my yard with lots of ants, so flickers are a common visitor for me.

[@Elisacr1]

The red ones like the telephone pole outside my house. They “Say hi” to me before moving on to their next migration destination.

[@brentboyd9057]

We have them in our backyard in Southern Alberta pretty much year round. The fledglings are very entertaining, landing in our birdbaths and standing around with their mouths open and waiting for mom or dad to feed them.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Haha. The youngsters are comical. Always loved them

[@rangerk9]

The first Northern Flicker I was blessed to see was jack-hammering through the snow on our place in southern Colorado. It was amazing to see how vigorously it worked! I fell in love immediately. What a great species that we are so blessed to have with us. Loved your message at the end about protecting and providing habitat for them. They deserve it!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Aww that must have been so cool to watch. Love those birds. Thanks for your kind comment. Have a great evening

[@nancyaustin9516]

I'm always thrilled to see the first northern flickers every year--they're a sign of spring in southern Michigan! Such beautiful birds to look at with all those spots, mustaches and all.

[@lisaleidy344]

They really are gorgeous!

[@ryanthompsonthompson820]

First time I have heard of a Northern Flicker. Beautiful bird.

[@johnnyc613]

Thanks I did not know that there were Two kinds…. Yellow & red !! Pretty awesome

[@ShelleeGraham]

Beautifully done video here Lesley. I adore 🥰 the Northern Flicker woodpecker. They are such delightfully fun birds to observe and assist however we can. Love the tips to help the Flicker survive in our own habitats. 🙏 Thank YOU Lesley! Great job!

[@kreese3939]

Agree! Your videos and commentary are truly enjoyable. You give depth to my rudimentary knowledge of birds. So glad I found your channel! I'm a fan of the Eastern Bluebird and have seven of them on my feeder as I type. Taking the time to stop and observe the birds has added a level of calm and insight to my life. I love sharing my world with them.

[@amywoodson1623]

Truly one of my favorite woodpeckers. When I first started watching birds, the first winter when a flicker showed up to my suet feeder, I was enthralled. What a beautiful bird. And I was tickled every day he came back. Which he did most days. Now that it is summer, I hear him more than see him. Occasionally, I will catch him on the ground puttering about for food. I still get excited seeing him. What a unique bird.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

I hear ya Amy, still after all these years and even though I know more in likely they'll scare off, I get excited when I see or hear one. Just love them.

[@annecassidy4448]

Saw my first flicker while walking on the track at a local university - couldn’t identify it, so this video was terrifically helpful!

[@RJFord-xs2os]

One of my favorite birds. I’ve learned so much from you, thank you.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

You're welcome. Thank you for the nice comment 🐦

[@sandramckay6305]

The Red Shafted Flicker has a distinctive undulating flight which shows off the beautiful red in their wings and tail.

[@cobythebirdnerd3790]

I love these birds!! I had a nest last year that was used by a nuthatch this year. I always wondered why they hopped on the ground and not going up a tree. Thanks for this wonderful video Lesley.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Too cool about the nuthatch and I'm glad you found the information helpful 🐦🙂

[@treebeard7140]

Nuthatches are like baby woodpeckers 😂

[@bassangler73]

Sad to hear that their numbers are declining!!! I see very few here in the mid south states..Very nice video!!!

[@chrisurwin9310]

Lived in Colorado years back near an open space and once in a while I wake up to these jokers pounding on the metal chimney announcing its territory and having its rolling ‘laugh’ afterwards. Always brought a smile to my face….till it knocked down the bird feeder scattering seeds everywhere in my garden…oh well…my fault putting it up there. Love your videos and Thank You for sharing😊

[@wyomingadventures]

Thank you to all the people who helped provide footage of the Flickers! Awesome video and a awesome bird!

[@Pacificnorthwestkate]

Thank you so much for including some of my clips in your video Lesley - great video and great work to all the other collaborators!! 🥰🙏❤️✨

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Hey you're quite welcome. Thank you for allowing to use your clips they were great. 🐦👍🤗

[@heatherwhitworth]

I'm really loving these collaboration videos. There are so many talented birders out there. (Not that your work isn't superb)! Interesting about the deep cavities that they nest in.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thank you Heather. I'm really enjoying doing these and am so glad that you like them too.

[@micahbirdlover8152]

why do northern flickers mate new partners 🤔

[@micahbirdlover8152]

@@LesleytheBirdNerd a long time ago Carolina Wren build nest on windowsel best experience ever☺️

[@BlueSun1157]

The local flickers came by the other day, with their young one.... they called me outside and made the rolling noise when I brought out some feed... they were teaching the young, making sure they know to come here.... feels like family

[@briarrose]

I get one to stop by my suet feeder every once in a while. It’s a real treat!

[@zeemod1556]

I saw my first one in someone's front yard on a walk. Knowing little about them it was funny to learn spotting them on the ground is more common.

[@treebeard7140]

They know where the grub is haha

[@donna30044]

Flickers have fascinated me since I was a child growing up in Florida.

[@cindydufala7646]

Thank you to all the people contributed footage of the flicker. Skipping school was a flicker in the 1960s. Wonder who started that. Lol

[@esterhowlingdogspoonplayer507]

I’m just starting my 2nd year in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and discovering your videos is a real treat. I’ve been seeing birds here in my back yard that I never saw in California, and some I saw when I lived in Alaska. It was in Alaska where my interest started, living as I did with a wildlife artist and his family. They were avid birders and shared with me their experience, awe, and respect for birds and their behavior. My education now continues with your beautifully detailed and informative videos. Thank you!

[@bennysarafa6774]

There is also a Guatemalan variation of the Northern Flicker - which has a beautiful plumage of dirty wine head and scarlet mustache for the male and rustic head and mustache for the female.

[@pinguinito3354]

All birds are beautiful!

[@paulsawczyc5019]

Seems like the more beautiful - the closer to extinction.

[@paulsawczyc5019]

@Nick Sweeney So specifically non-specific.

[@BirdsandGhibliFan]

@@paulsawczyc5019 Not necessarily. Except for parrots and macaws, which are affected by the pet trade and habitat loss, and species like the Painted Bunting (I think their conservation status is also threatened by habitat loss), I don’t think there is a strong correlation between the aesthetic beauty of a bird and threatened conservation status.

[@paulsawczyc5019]

@@BirdsandGhibliFan It just seems that way because there are so many plain jane looking birds, compared to showy birds - at least where I live in New Jersey.

[@BirdsandGhibliFan]

@@paulsawczyc5019 I kinda see what you mean. I also live in NJ, and sometimes it seems like there is little variety of colorful birds outside of the common Cardinals, Blue Jays, and the state bird, the American Goldfinch in the summer. However, the good news is, I attracted an Eastern Kingbird to my backyard feeders for the first time a couple of days ago. As for woodpeckers, it seems I can only attract the Downy Woodpeckers (and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers on rare occasions). I hope to attract Pileated Woodpeckers and Flickers, but I don’t think I live in the right habitat for them. Hopefully, that changes when I move out-of-state one day. Take care, and happy birding! 👋🐦🙂

[@hopesmith3741]

Living in Arizona I have also seen red-shafted flickers nesting in saguaro cacti!

[@treebeard7140]

What a sight!

[@robertmarcus9653]

You are amazing. I learn so much from your calm and knowledgeable voice. ☘️💐🌱🌾🌻

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Aww Robert that's wonderful. Thank you 🐦☺️

[@gettingold59]

I saw one last week below my feeder and did not know what it was. So now I know. THANKS GUYS

[@ryanlake6220]

Thanks for such a comprehensive video on Flickers, Lesley. I live in the Cariboo region of BC, Canada, and share your delight in the beautiful birds.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

It has been two years since I have watched this video. The Yellow Shafter Northern Flicker is still the most fascinating bird in central Illinois.

[@Terri_Stauffer]

Never seen the northern flicker, but what a beautiful bird. I have plenty of downed trees, I used as border to garden area, so maybe one day they will come. Since I live in forest area there are plenty of downed trees for them to choose from though. I hear that call, but could be the pileated who visits my yard every so often.

[@urbanbeachbum2148]

I recently moved to a large rural property. I’m so happy to see flickers for the first time. I sprinkle some seeds in the grass near my house since I love mourning doves. Every day, always in the 4:00 hour, the mourning doves and flickers fill my yard. The mourning doves are the most low key birds; I wonder what they’re thinking as they look around at the frenetic flickers. I’ve had to have some dead trees taken down for safety reasons, but I left many for my friends. I have so many woodpeckers of all types, even had my first sighting of a pileated…named Woody, of course. 😎

[@RoadRunner-vq1vw]

Thank you Lesley. This is both lovely and educational. For some reason I have had very little luck getting more than a glimpse of this bird, but can hear them all the time. Thanks again for your great work!

[@caveatemp]

Thanks for the details of the nest. You got me scheming. Had some feeding in our yard a few years back. Can you make a video about the Great Crested Flycatcher? A lovely bird living in our yard the past few years.

[@boatman222345]

I feel better every time I watch a Bird Nerd video. People's attempt to understand and help animals is one of our more estimable traits and this wonderful lady is a striking example of that!

[@LisaBeergutHolst]

I've heard these calls. Now I know who made them. Thanks!

[@antonycastle6643]

Your work is amazing. My fiance and I love your videos, and you do an fantastic job bringing to life the magic of wild birds.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thank you so much 😀

[@manofparadox]

That distinctive call should make them easier to locate in the wild. They're a sight to behold, for sure..

[@gaypreator8547]

Northern Flicker(s) love my fireplace flue: sounds like a jet plane coming in the house. I love the 🎶🎶🎶🎶 rat ta tat. Yellowstone County Montana.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Omg hahahah that has to be crazy.

[@sharong8511]

They love my next door neighbours’ redundant fireplace flue as well. (After catching fire shortly after installation the owner deemed it prudent to remove the wood burning fireplace.) However, the metal cap is a favourite drum for the red shafted flickers in the neighbourhood on Vancouver Island.

[@gaypreator8547]

@@sharong8511 😀 Once you hear it - discover the source - you just fall in love - as if chosen. ❤️🕊

[@Fitzy222]

So that's the bird who rat-a-tats on the metal cap of our furnace chimney in the early morning! 😲 Just saw one on our railing a few days ago. It's bird song was beautiful so I had to go and see what kind of bird it was. 😍Thank you, Lesley

[@sumdumdog]

They've been frequenting our place lately (winter). My favorite thing is just how often they'll just sit and watch. Pretty chill, too -- the only bird I've seen [so far] successfully ignore blue jay hijinks. It's a nice contrasting energy to all the high-energy movement of other birds around them. Plus, the butt-scoot is too cute, and they do it so much.

[@deedeequast9148]

Wonderful footage of these delightful birds. Thank you!

[@ricksneed4171]

I get a group of about 4 that come into my yard, occasionally, and peck at the ground. pretty cool birds. Everett, WA.

[@jeannejorgensen1230]

Just found one in my yard on Long Island, New York! Heard their cry first and it was so unfamiliar to me, I had to find out what kind of bird made this sound. Later, I saw it walking up my back yard stone path, pecking between the stones. I watched it for a long time. Beautiful and Fascinating. I googled a description and saw it’s unmistakable markings and colors. I listened to recordings of its call and knew I had found my bird!

[@newchanceanimalantics8096]

I had one in the maple tree today. He was making his call and all of a sudden there were 3. Very unique and 1st time seeing one, a real treat!

[@sydbird]

I laughed so much at the cow patty part.

[@MHarenArt]

Super Lesley! Thank you so much, and everyone who contributed!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thank you so much Maggie 🤗🐦

[@JS-lp2bc]

I have a couple fledglings in my yard this summer and the parents are never far away, they are so entertaining!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

They are so comical. How lucky that you have them in your yard 🐦

[@birdgirl2623]

In our backyard in suburban Kansas, we frequently see Northern Flickers if we put out food they especially like--suet and mealworm cakes in particular. We have the yellow-shafted variety with the black "moustaches" on the male birds. They really are splendid in their polka-dotted waistcoats!

[@sandierads4223]

I wish I would have found your videos/page earlier. I would have sent some pics and videos in. I have a male that eats suet off of my window feeder and he loves it. He comes twice a day once in the morning and once around sunset and I wait for him everyday because to see him fly with all of that bright yellow is amazing. Had my husband put up a camera so we could record all of our visitors to my window, he’s my favorite. He has the coral mark on his nape and it’s the perfect heart shape. Truly beautiful. Love your videos and so happy I found your account.

[@patriciacorahharter5447]

my first sighting was at a nut feeder in my backyard... "Oh my! That is beautiful=what is it?"

[@carefulpilgrim]

Thank you, Leslie, for describing their calls and recording them. You solved a mystery for me!

[@joseenoel8093]

I love to hear them from afar! Thank you Lesley, now I know their song and other infos! Ah I hate starlings!

[@Danika_Nadzan]

I love Flickers, and am lucky enough to have some living in the woods near me. As always, your videos are informative, entertaining, and beautifully done!

[@talltimber4577]

I could listen to you talk all day. You do a great job.

[@appalachianwoman561]

I've had the Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers coming all winter and now into summer to my feeder I keep in a mini wishing well. Today for the 1st time I spotted a Northern Flicker out in the yard going around the wishing well, I suppose it was finding the nuts I'd sprinkled around the yard in an effort to try to keep the squirrels and ground squirrels out of my bird feeders. So I guess as of today I now have 3 different varieties of woodpeckers coming around and I am enjoying it. Love to hear their tapping up in the trees around the house.

[@vgorski7545]

Really great video Leslie. These flickers are my favorite birds in the woodpecker group. Totally enjoyed this vid and learned a lot . Thank you !!!

[@ferrisb1588]

Gorgeous bird, such a treat whenever I spot one. I think I saw one flying last week, it had that distinctive white rump when it flew! that was all i could tell from it, as I wasn't wearing my glasses... I thought it was a mourning dove at first because of the brown. Very possible it was a flicker though!! Great video, Lesley

[@mc12358]

Mourning Dove would not have had a white rump. Only white on that part of a Mourning Dove is a fringe along the outer tail feathers. I'd say you saw a Flicker!

[@TalenGryphon]

One of these crashed into a snowy tree branch and corkscrewed into the road right in front of my bus this winter. Cue the rapid and total disembarkation of my bus as I and my students stopped and went to check on the female Northern Flicker. I picked her up and was holding her, trying to get in touch with the school so our local vet could meet the bus when she came to, shook herself off and flew away. Good thing Woodpeckers are prettymuch immune to concussions by nature. Such a pretty bird and a very special moment for my students

[@kateclark7250]

Lovely video; thank you for this Lesley.

[@calvinjackson8110]

The photo by Larry Blew was especially awesome. It would make an excellent print. Always enjoy your videos. Your delivery is so calming, relaxing and pleasant!

[@desertfox3860]

Very nice, thanks! My Flickers have a tough time with the Starlings running them out of the nest that they worked so hard to make.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Awe poor things 😔

[@mc12358]

I've had a sudden influx of starlings at my feeders this year. The worst year for them in a decade of feeding at my yard. So bad that I switched over from hot pepper to regular suet so that the squirrels would help run off the starlings. S. vulgaris indeed.

[@micahbirdlover8152]

I like the name yellow hammer 😊

[@CenturianEagle]

Great video!! Omg they’re so cute! The one clip of the flicker hopping around in the grass was way too adorable 🥰😍🥰

[@dianawoods6991]

When we hear a woodpecker it is so haunting and makes us happy to be in the woods of the NW. 🦅

[@jerseywoods9994]

I saw one this morning while doing a morning hike in Monmouth County New Jersey. It was in a dead tree pecking away. I had the fortune of watching this bird for about 15 minutes before I kept walking on the trail. What a cool sight to see this morning....

[@keithehredt753]

Thanks for sharing Lesley. Appreciate your time and research. Great job sister. Kool bird.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thank you 🤗🐦☺️

[@leroidethunes3913]

thank you for making these videos, as a fellow bird lover i find them fascinating and very entertaining, as well as very good material for inspiration while painting

[@robertcarey6388]

I had a couple nesting for a few years in my apple tree trunk. Northern Michigan

[@lulabelle4760]

A red pair showed up in my yard last summer. Possibly due to the forest fires north of here. Didn't see them all winter. They came back this spring-well a couple showed up! This evening the mommy brought the baby to the feeders on the deck! I didn't know what type of Bird they were-Thank you so very much for this lovely, educational video!💖

[@larrymaynard]

Thank you dear I loved your report on Flickers .I am happy I found your channel.

[@sierrachoco5271]

We see them in our backyard sometimes - Buffalo, NY. Thanks for the info, great video!

[@brma1892]

I was just wondering who makes this call after hearing it today in Luskville, QC. You always have the answers to all of my birding questions! Thank you for this beautiful video. 🙂

[@treebeard7140]

Rural north east CT we have many of these in the yard and I'm so thankful. We feed them but mostly they like the bugs we attract.

[@John_Fugazzi]

It's a beautiful bird. I remember the first time I saw one at my birdfeeder in winter. I had to look it up in a book because I had never seen one before. They were very infrequent and only showed up during bitter cold spells when it was zero or below, rare in the Ohio Valley.

[@GulfcoastHokie]

They’re the State Bird of Alabama, but they’re known by their colloquial name here. The Yellow Hammer.

[@Counterpoint1951]

I love it when I see these guys in my yard.

[@rotag-itsni]

Fantastic video! These are some of my favorite birds. I had a family living in my roof all last year and always enjoyed watching them poke their heads out to see what was going on in the outside world. Thanks for the great content!

[@chaplainand1]

Greetings and thank you for posting. We live near the center of Grand Traverse County, MI. Until this video, we did not know the bird calls you provided in this video. Now we know we have Flickers in the woods here. With an aging population of abandoned Scotch Pine Christmas trees, there are a few cadavers that may qualify for nesting. As for the drumming, we've not heard them but have heard either the Downey or the Hairy drumming on an old CB antenna tower and a Pileated drumming on an overturned aluminum canoe. Earlier in the year, there was a (mating?) pair that would drum on trees - maybe 10 beats, then pause, and the other would answer from maybe a 1000 feet away. That type of exchange might last for 30 seconds or more. Fascinating creatures, birds. Currently we have at least one mating pair of Rose-breasted Gross Beaks visiting the feeder and feeding their fledging's at the feeder. We put out a handful of shelled oil-seed sunflower seeds daily. We so enjoy the company of the visiting birds.

[@Rain9Quinn]

Love these birds! Always happy when i get a glimpse, but never knew they were woodpeckers! Thanks for that info☺️

[@consciouscrunch5556]

Love this bird so much! I've found many feathers along my journey 🤍

[@BirdsandGhibliFan]

Flicker feathers… Lucky you! ☘️ I can imagine Flicker feathers are about as detailed as Wild Turkeys. 🦃🪶

[@consciouscrunch5556]

@@BirdsandGhibliFan I'll maybe somehow share it on here

[@kristenoliviera9229]

Omg!!! One of my favorites to watch in my yard!! Love love love!! This was a great clip on them!!! Thank you!!