“THE FLICKER”

From Bird Stories From Burroughs (1911)
By John Burroughs

The flicker is our most common woodpecker. He is a bird of marked individuality, and has many attractive ways. You may know him afar by his large size and the yellow lining of his wings (in the Eastern states), or near by his peculiar call, which is quite unlike that of any other woodpecker. This call is a long, strong, sonorous “wick-a-wick-a-wick,” which can be heard a long distance. The flicker also has a long, shrill, quivering whistle which is very pleasing.

Darwin says that the woodpecker is a climbing bird; but our flicker spends a good deal of his time upon the ground. He sees the flicker running about in the fields, picking up ants, which form a large part of his food. He is particularly fond of the large black ant. Sometimes he digs into the ant-hills, scattering them in every direction.

He is often seen on the fences and in the orchard. In the spring he drums upon some dry limb, or upon the ridge-pole of the house, or upon a tin pan, or upon anything that will make a noise. This drumming is his love-song. It is a call to his mate, and a challenge to his rivals. The louder the noise, the more he seems pleased. His drumming can never be mistaken for that of any other woodpecker. It is a long roll, as rapid as the beat of a drumstick, and so perfect that it seems hardly possible it could be made by a bird.

The flicker builds his nest in a hole in a tree, usually in some decayed limb. He sometimes excavates a new hole, but he often uses an old one. The cavity is large enough to admit the hand. The eggs are pure white, as are those of all woodpeckers. They are usually five or six in number.

The young flickers are curious little creatures. When the nest is approached, they make a loud hissing sound, something like that of a snake. This sound is very startling. If you put your hand into the nest, the little birds will strike at it with their bills, just as if they were angry.

The flicker is a very lively bird. He is constantly on the go. His flight is strong and rapid. He flaps his wings more than does any other woodpecker. He has a graceful curve in his flight, and when he alights, it is almost always upon a tree or post. He spreads his tail and uses it as a support, just as other woodpeckers do.

The flicker is very fond of the sunshine. He delights to sit upon a dead limb, or upon a fence, and sun himself. He seems to enjoy life to the utmost. He has many winning ways, and he is one of the most pleasing birds we have.

The Woodland Forager: Why Northern Flickers Need Healthy Forest Edges

This Northern Flicker paused just long enough at eye level for me to make this portrait—one of our most charismatic woodpeckers, dressed in warm buff tones, black crescents, and those unmistakable spotted belly feathers. But beyond their beauty, flickers play a quiet ecological role we often overlook.

What makes this bird special?
Unlike most woodpeckers, Northern Flickers spend much of their time foraging on the ground, probing soil for ants, beetles, and other insects. They aerate the earth as they dig, helping keep insect populations in balance. Flickers are also important “cavity creators”—their abandoned nest holes later shelter bluebirds, chickadees, owls, and even small mammals. A thriving flicker population is a sign of a diverse insect community and a forest with deadwood left in place.

The conservation challenge:
Northern Flickers have experienced steady long-term declines across North America. Habitat loss, removal of standing dead trees, pesticide use, and competition from non-native cavity users (like European Starlings) all reduce their nesting success. Ground foraging makes them especially vulnerable to lawn chemicals and shrinking natural open spaces.
Climate change adds another layer of pressure, altering insect cycles and the availability of nesting sites as storms and development reshape forests.

How you can help:
• Leave dead trees and snags when they’re not a safety hazard
• Reduce or eliminate lawn pesticides and fertilizers
• Plant native shrubs and trees that support insect diversity
• Add nest boxes designed to deter starling competition
• Support land conservation efforts protecting forest edges and open woodlands
• Create “wild patches” in yards—messy is good for flickers and the creatures they depend on

By making space for insects, deadwood, and natural forest structure, we also make space for the Northern Flicker—an energetic, ground-drumming ambassador of healthy woodland ecosystems. Protect the habitat, and birds like this one will continue to bring life and music to our local forests.

1/1600 sec at f/5.6

700 mm

ISO 1000

Canon EOS-1DX

EF500mm f/4L ISM +1.4 extender