Credit: Larry Bond
North American field guide
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Also known as:Yellowhammer, Clape, Gaffer Woodpecker, Harry-wicket, Heigh-ho, Wake-up, Walk-up, Wick-up, Yarrup, Gawker Bird
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Identification
Field notes
32 cm (13") Common. Open woodlands, groves, farms, suburbs.
Brown barred back. Black crescent bib. Male has a mustache.
Three forms exist: Yellow Shafted Flicker east of Rockies has yellow underwings and a black mustache; Red-shafted Flicker west of Rockies has pink underwings and a red mustache; Gilded Flicker in saguaros and deserts in southwestern United States has yellow underwings and a red mustache.
Often on ground.
In flight; shows conspicuous white rump.
Song: loud repeated "flick" and a single "flicker".
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Credit: Larry Bond
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Videos
Northern Flicker
Credit: Larry BondNorthern Flicker Red shafted
Credit: Larry BondWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants · 4 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Northern Flicker (Female)
2 rulesRule 1 10 criteria · confidence 9
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird) · Woodpecker or Tree-clinging bird
Rule 2 10 criteria · confidence 9
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird) · Woodpecker or Tree-clinging bird
Northern Flicker (Male)
2 rulesRule 1 10 criteria · confidence 9
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird) · Woodpecker or Tree-clinging bird
Rule 2 10 criteria · confidence 9
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird) · Woodpecker or Tree-clinging bird