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Northern Flicker |
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Colaptes auratus |
| Description: 12"A large brownish woodpecker, brown back with dark bars and spots, whitish or buff below with black spots, black crescent on breast, white rump in flight, western birds lack nape patch and have salmon-pink wing linings | Habitat:Widespread in a variety of habitats including open woodlands, suburban areas, saguaro deserts, parks, mature forests. Feeds on the ground, eating ants. Yellow-shafted race of the east and Red-shafted race of the west are still considered one species. But Gilded Flicker is now a separate species. |
| Nesting: 6-8 white eggs in a tree cavity, power pole or man-made bird house | Range: Resident across continent |
| Voice: loud repeated flicker or wicka-wicka-wicka, also a loud kleer | Diet: Especially ants (more than any other North America bird); also occasionally seeds, acorns, nuts, grain. Young fed regurgitant. |
| Notes: only woodpecker that feeds on the ground, most terrestrial of North American Woodpeckers |
| When present in Oklahoma: present year-round throughout state |