northern flicker

Northern flicker on a shed roof, rummaging through tree debris.

Northern Flicker on a shed roof rummaging through tree debris.

Northern Flicker - Intergrade Female

Northern Flicker, (maybe a yellow shaft? Correct me if I'm wrong please..) out searching for food along the driveway. Had it's eye on me the whole time.

Northern Flicker (red shafted)

A lousy photo but a fun story. This Flicker was mooching around under a Hawthorn, occasionally eating fallen berries. A bunch of Robins up in the Hawthorn didn't like it, and were shrieking their displeasure at it. The Flicker then flew up to this tree nearby, a robin hot on it's tail. The...

Another look at this beaut. Gotta love those amazing markings.

Came quite close to the house yesterday. Very unusual as they are usually mooching around in the sod on the fringes of our yard.

An occasional visitor to my yard. Always fun to watch them searching for grubs and whatnot in the sod.

It's the most common type of woodpecker in my neighborhood. I see them all the time. I love them so much. Sometimes they wake me up in the morning with the drumming they do on the neighbor's roof top.

This guy is investigating a former Hairy Woodpecker nesting hole, which was then a Starling nesting hole. He stuck his head in a few times, then went inside, threw out some debris, went in and out of the hole several times as if testing the fit, then flew off and began calling. Maybe saying...

While walking yesterday saw this beaut preening on a power pole. Always fun to see these beautiful woodpeckers.

This Flicker was hopping around the yard under a tree. Try as I might, I just couldn't get a shot of it in complete sunlight. I had to settle for this dappled image.

Happened to catch these two in "The Moment".

Speaking of Northern Flickers, I looked out my window again just a few minutes ago to find two males at the top of a power pole in my front yard. They are doing a peculiar territorial dance. Much head bobbing, weaving back and forth, and tail fanning. Very fun to watch. Had to take this through...

I was quite startled yesterday when I looked out my window and saw this Northern Flicker mooching out of a sunflower seed feeder. Although you can find numerous photos of these birds on feeders, I have never had it happen here before. The big fellow could barely fit himself into it.

Northern Flicker hunting for bugs. Beautiful bird, and impressive in the cyclic rate of their staccato efforts to feed themselves. I am thankful that he stuck around long enough to at least grab a few pics.

Once in a while a shot from the "other" end is good too, long as they'll turn the head!

This is a red-shafted father and son. Junior on the right has more brownish coloring on the throat and back of the neck.

..which I was surprised to see as I had not seen any adults prior to this. To me this is an immature but I may well be wrong.

An occasional visitor to the yard.