(Colaptes auratus)
Another of our winter visitors to our feeders is the Northern Flicker. It is a pleasure to watch them hanging onto a feeder or walking on the snow below, eating frozen sunflower seeds.
The population of these on the coast is quite large, and they can be observed regularly. The northern flicker is a large member of the woodpecker family. It measures up to 35 cm from head to tail. Its head is gray, with a noticeable red-to-orange patch on the back part. Its bottom sides are light brown with dark brown or black specks.
The male flicker has a mustache streaked with red or black, while the female has a brown mustache stripe. In courtship, pairs will proceed with a ritual wherein they bob their heads and let out a distinct mating call simultaneously.
The Northern Flicker is a woodpecker. It can dig its own tree cavities for nesting at heights up to 18 meters. The female northern flicker typically lays up to 9 eggs, all usually a pure white colour. Males and females will then take turns incubating the eggs for about 12 days. They will then raise their offspring for about 4 weeks, after which the birds fledge and leave the nest.
An odd habit of the northern flicker is feeding on the ground, in comparison to most members of the woodpecker family, which normally feed on trees.
Ants are its main source of nourishment, though this breed also enjoys fruits, seeds, and berries, as well as some insects caught in the air. The Northern Flicker is easily attracted to backyards by setting out sunflower seeds. They are such beautiful birds to see. I could watch them all day and there calls are pretty awesome