# Northern Flicker (*Colaptes auratus*) The Northern Flicker is a fun and colorful bird! They love to peck on the ground for ants and beetles, making them unique among woodpeckers. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 205 - **Habitat:** Forests and open fields - **Also known as:** Red-shafted Flicker, Yellow-shafted Flicker ![Northern Flicker](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426613/objects/4556.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Flicker has a brownish body with black barring on its back and a distinct black crescent on its chest. Its underparts are white with round black spots. In flight, a flash of white on its rump is visible, along with yellow or red underwings, depending on the region. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Colaptes ## Interesting facts - Different flickers are yellow or red under their wings! - Flickers can bang their heads 15 times a second without injury! - They can extend their sticky tongue up to 2 inches beyond their beak! - They sometimes nest inside old buildings or even mailboxes! ## Special abilities - **Ant-Snatcher Tongue:** Northern Flicker has an incredibly long, barbed tongue that helps them reach deep into ant tunnels to catch insects. - **Ground-Prober:** Northern Flicker can forage mainly on the ground, a unique trait among woodpeckers, because they love to eat ants. - **Resonant Drummer:** Northern Flicker can communicate by drumming rapidly on trees or even metal objects to attract mates or mark territory. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 31-35 cm - **Wingspan:** 42-51 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-0.16 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-12 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-8 - **Incubation:** 11-12 days - **Migration Distance:** 2500 km ## Diet & Feeding This bird loves to eat ants and other insects it finds on the ground or in dead wood. - **Primary Foods:** Ants, Beetles, Termites, Caterpillars, Berries, Seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Adults can be prey. - **Depends on:** [European Starling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-starling) (*Sturnus vulgaris*) — Competes for nesting cavities. - **Eats:** [Black Garden Ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-garden-ant) (*Lasius niger*) — A favorite food source. - **Eats:** [Staghorn Sumac](https://www.snappit.app/explore/staghorn-sumac) (*Rhus typhina*) — Feeds on winter berries. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Northern Flickers are friendly birds. Just enjoy watching them from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Flicker? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Flicker? 31-35 cm ### What is Northern Flicker's wingspan? 42-51 cm ### How much does Northern Flicker weigh? 0.1-0.16 kg ### How long does Northern Flicker live? 5-12 years ### How fast can Northern Flicker move? 55 km/h ### What does Northern Flicker eat? This bird loves to eat ants and other insects it finds on the ground or in dead wood. ### Where is Northern Flicker usually found? Forests and open fields ## Where to spot - [Ambler Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ambler-heights-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Barrio De Analco Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrio-de-analco-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Black Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-creek-park) — New York, US · Park - [Bloedel Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloedel-reserve) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Brattleboro Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattleboro-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Cedar Brook Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-brook-park) — New Jersey, US · Park [View all places to see Northern Flicker](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-flicker) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Northern Flicker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-flicker)