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 on a regular basis. 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 of red or black, while the female has a brown mustache stripe. In courtship, pairs will proceed with a ritual wherein they bob heads and let out a distinct mating call simultaneously.
The Northern Flicker is a woodpecker, It is able to dig their 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. Male and female 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 that 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