Bird of the Month - March 2026 - The Northern Flicker

🪶 Cool Facts about the Northern Flicker

• Unlike most woodpeckers, Northern Flickers spend lots of time on the ground, hunting ants and beetles.
• They can eat thousands of ants in a single day, using a long, barbed, sticky tongue.
• Their slightly curved bill is adapted for digging in soil instead of drilling wood.
• In flight, they flash a bright white rump patch and colorful wing linings (yellow or red depending on the form).
• There are two main types—Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted—which often interbreed where their ranges meet.
• Flickers often reuse tree cavities and their old nest holes become homes for other birds and wildlife.
• Their loud “wicka-wicka-wicka” call is easier to hear than their drumming.
• Males perform aerial courtship displays to defend territory and attract mates.
• Some flickers migrate, while others stay year-round depending on location and food supply. 

A truly unique woodpecker you’re just as likely to spot on your lawn as on a tree! 🌳

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