Northern Flicker? (Y/N) (1 Viewer)

[TGNWest]

My wife and I were discussing this bird, I am pretty sure it is a Red Shafted Northern Flicker, but wanted to see if I could get confirmation that it is.

Thanks

 

[KenM]

Certainly looks like one, whereabouts in the US are you?

Cheers

 

[TGNWest]

Sorry, I know I should have added that. It's North America in Northern Idaho

 

[Earnest lad]

I think the red moustachial stripe indicates a red-shafted one.

 

[TGNWest]

I think the red moustachial stripe indicates a red-shafted one.

That is what I was thinking as well 👍

 

[lockbreeze926]

I think the red moustachial stripe indicates a red-shafted one.

This is quite right.

Also, the red-shafted sub-species is what you'd expect in N ID.

 

[buckofdurham]

The mustache indicates that it's a male N Flicker. It's also called a Yellow Hammer. It's a beautiful bird. Nice pic, they don't stand still long.

I took this pic last month in Indiana.

 

[TGNWest]

The snow doesn't seem to bother them.

 

[buckofdurham]

The snow doesn't seem to bother them.

I hope not. If you look close in the pic I took. It looks like their is moisture perhaps even ice in her cheek feathers. I hope she's alright.

 

[buckofdurham]

The pic I took is a female. I am pretty sure if it were a male it would have the black mustache.

 

[rkj]

Regarding the initial post, it is just as you think, a Northern Flicker, and everything we can see suggests it is the red-shafted form: salmon-red in the wings and tail (rather than yellow), a gray face (rather than brown), a plain brown nape (rather than with a red band), and a red moustachial stripe (rather than black). The moustachial stripe indicates it is a male. Intergrades between the red- and yellow-shafted are common and widespread, and can seemingly combine any combination of features. Check the flickers you see carefully and you may well see one with some of the features of the yellow-shafted form.

 

[KC Foggin]

yup! You nailed the I D. TGN 😊

 

[Earnest lad]

Regarding the initial post, it is just as you think, a Northern Flicker, and everything we can see suggests it is the red-shafted form: salmon-red in the wings and tail (rather than yellow), a gray face (rather than brown), a plain brown nape (rather than with a red band), and a red moustachial stripe (rather than black). The moustachial stripe indicates it is a male. Intergrades between the red- and yellow-shafted are common and widespread, and can seemingly combine any combination of features. Check the flickers you see carefully and you may well see one with some of the features of the yellow-shafted form.

Are intergrades common in all areas, or is there an "intermediate" zone between the respective ranges in which one commonly finds intergrades but not elsewhere?

 

[rkj]

I do not know the exact distribution of intergrades, but I see some in California most winters. If they are here, they must be fairly widespread.

 

[Earnest lad]

I do not know the exact distribution of intergrades, but I see some in California most winters. If they are here, they must be fairly widespread.

Thank you so much.

 

[buckofdurham]

I borrowed this pic of a integrated from Birds Amore in Oregon