The most striking woodpecker we have in North America, I think, is the wary Flicker, called by some in the south the "Yellowhammer" because of its bright yellow under wing color. Actually there are two variations of the bird, the eastern and western, with the western variety having bright red instead of yellow underparts. The two types often hybridize and present mixed coloration. They are tannish-brown and covered with black spots, with a white rump patch. Our eastern birds have a red upside-down V on the back of their head/neck, and a black bib on the front neck/chest area.
Flickers are year round residents in most areas of the US, but the northern birds do migrate, spending their winters in the south. This means that our southern population is greatly increased in the winter, so the best and easiest time to see them in our area is the winter months. They are plentiful now and the pictures below were taken in The Field yesterday.
Unlike most of our woodpeckers, those birds feed mostly on the ground on an insect diet consisting mostly of ants and beetles, although they also consume fruit, berries, etc. They prefer open woods areas which allow for tree access and available ground feeding sites. For a complete review of their life cycle, breeding habits, and general behavior, visit the Cornell Bird Identification Page. Enjoy the pics below.
Flickers are year round residents in most areas of the US, but the northern birds do migrate, spending their winters in the south. This means that our southern population is greatly increased in the winter, so the best and easiest time to see them in our area is the winter months. They are plentiful now and the pictures below were taken in The Field yesterday.
Unlike most of our woodpeckers, those birds feed mostly on the ground on an insect diet consisting mostly of ants and beetles, although they also consume fruit, berries, etc. They prefer open woods areas which allow for tree access and available ground feeding sites. For a complete review of their life cycle, breeding habits, and general behavior, visit the Cornell Bird Identification Page. Enjoy the pics below.
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