Woodpeckers & Flickers

Northern Flicker

NPS Photo

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Northern Flickers are about 12 inches tall (30 cm). they have a brown back with narrow black bars, a black chest patch and spots on their belly. Under their wings and tail, they can have yellow or red feathers and males have a colored ‘’mustache’ strip near their beak. These birds prefer to live in open forests, tree groves, towns and semi-open areas like farming fields or meadows. Their diet consists of ants and other insects. It will diversity its diet in the fall and winter, eating fruits, berries, seeds and nuts.

Fun Fact: Northern Flickers come in two types: Eastern “yellow shafted” flickers who have yellow under feathers on their wings and tail; and Western “red shafted” flickers have red under feathers on their wings and tail.

 

Hairy Woodpecker

NPS Photo

Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)

Hairy Woodpeckers are about 9” tall (23 cm). These woodpeckers have a long bill, white outer tail feathers, and a dark chest. Males will have a red patch on their head. These birds prefer forests, river groves, or anywhere where there are large trees present. Their diet consists of mostly insects, but they will occasionally eat berries, seeds, nuts, and tree sap.

Fun Fact: Fine stiff feathers cover the nares (nostrils) of these birds to protect them from bits of flying wood and sawdust.

 

Downy Woodpecker

NPS Photo

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

Downy Woodpeckers are between 6-7 inches tall (14-17 cm) and they have a white chest, a black and white back, and males will have a red nape. It prefers wooded areas as its habitat but can also be found in cities where there are deciduous trees such as aspens or willows. Its diet consists of mostly insects, favoring beetles and ants, but will also forage for seeds and berries.

Fun Fact: Downy Woodpeckers will camouflage the entrance to their nests by surrounding it with fungus or lichen. This helps protect the nest from predators.