Woodpeckers
Colaptes auratus
The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a distinctive woodpecker found across North America, recognized by its brown plumage and a conspicuous white rump patch visible in flight. Unlike many woodpeckers, it spends a significant amount of time foraging on the ground. This species exhibits regional color variations, particularly in the underwing and tail feathers.
Typical adult measurements.
Individuals and populations vary.
01 / The telltale details
Start with shape and behavior. Then look for the smaller details.
Overall brown with black barring on the back, a black crescent on the upper breast, and black spots on the belly.
Eastern populations (Yellow-shafted) display bright yellow underwings and undertail, while western birds (Red-shafted) show salmon-pink or red.
Males have a mustache stripe: black in Yellow-shafted forms and red in Red-shafted forms. Females lack this stripe.
A prominent white patch on the rump is visible during its undulating flight and often when perched.
02 / A place in the world
Northern Flickers inhabit a wide range of open habitats near trees, including woodlands, forest edges, parks, and suburban areas. They tend to avoid dense, unbroken forests, preferring areas with some open ground for foraging. In western regions, they can be found in mountain forests up to the treeline.
This species is native to most of North America, extending into parts of Central America, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands. The two main forms, Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted, interbreed where their ranges overlap, creating a broad zone of intergrades in the western Great Plains.
Northern populations of the Northern Flicker are strongly migratory, typically moving south for the winter, with some individuals remaining in northern areas. Red-shafted Flickers often undertake shorter migrations, moving southward and from higher elevations to lowlands.
03 / Listen a little closer
Their vocalizations include a loud, ringing series of calls, often described as a sustained laugh, and a sharp, descending call. They also communicate through drumming on trees or other resonant objects.
04 / The life behind the feathers
The diet of the Northern Flicker primarily consists of insects, with ants making up a significant portion, sometimes as much as 45% of their summer diet. They also consume beetles, termites, caterpillars, and other invertebrates. Fruits, berries, seeds, and nuts are eaten, especially in fall and winter.
Unlike most woodpeckers, Northern Flickers frequently forage on the ground, hopping and probing for ants and other insects with their slightly curved bill and long, sticky tongue. They also climb trees, perch on branches to eat fruits, and occasionally catch insects in flight.
Northern Flickers are cavity nesters, typically excavating holes in dead or diseased tree trunks, large branches, utility poles, or fence posts. Both parents participate in excavation and incubation of 5-8 white eggs. They may reuse cavities from previous years or those made by other species.
Northern Flickers are diurnal and territorial, with males defending nesting areas through calls, drumming, and aggressive displays like head swinging, wing flicking, and tail spreading. They exhibit anting behavior, using formic acid from ants to help with preening.
One more reason to pay attention
The Northern Flicker is one of the few North American woodpeckers that is strongly migratory.
They are the only woodpecker in North America that commonly finds food on the ground.
Over 100 common names exist for the Northern Flicker, many derived from attempts to imitate its calls.
05 / An eye for the difference
Pileated Woodpeckers are significantly larger, mostly black with prominent red crests, and typically forage on tree trunks rather than the ground.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are smaller, with a zebra-backed pattern and a red wash on the belly, lacking the flicker's spotted underside and ground-foraging habits.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are smaller, with distinct white wing patches, and create rows of sap wells in trees, a behavior not seen in flickers.
AI-assisted species research. Prepared September 2026. Details can vary across regions and populations.