They ripped the fibrous divider in our driveway apart over several years. I assume looking for bugs of some kind. I don't know what the stuff is called but it is in the seam between sections of concrete in our sidewalk and driveway.

Hi Jane, I studied the reproductive biology of flickers from 2003-2009 as part of my job (I am a wildlife biologist). What you probably saw is a territorial dispute between 2 males. I doubt that one bird is a female since, although they can look similar when recently fledged, they would have molted already into adult plumage prior to their first breeding season. For instance, some recenlty fledged female Hairy Woodpeckers can have red on top of the head resembling a male, but then by winter, have molted into adult female plumage and lost all red. Woodpeckers, including flickers, have very distinct behaviors when it comes to territorial disputes. There is rarely any direct fighting, instead, the birds posture to each other, often holding their beaks at weird angles, flattening themselves to branches/trunks, waving their heads back and forth, wing flashing, etc. All of this is done to avoid direct contact fighting. However, sometimes there are fights which can resemble mating. Now, I am not saying for sure that they aren't two males trying to hook up, but from what I have observed of these birds over a seven-year period, a territorial dispute sounds more likely. Further, this is the time of year (March) when most woodpeckers begin firmly establishing territories in preparation of the breeding season. I just wanted to chime in my own behavioral observations of flickers and what I know of woodpecker behavior in general. BN

Small update: I was out at dusk doing some last minute watering and debating on which pots to bring under the porch in case there was a light frost. I thought the little guy would've been asleep, but apparently my noises woke him up and he sat on the broken branch over his hole to watch me for a good 15 minutes, taking occasional flights over to some sycamores (he's flipping off pieces of bark, apparently for a before-bed snack). However, when he finally flew back into his nest, I could hear the chatter of TWO birds. Look's like he's found his significant other. Now I can't wait for the eventual little feathery fuzzballs in awhile. I'll try to buy a suet feeder this weekend if I can remember.

With the temps we have had, I knew there had to be an explanation! No need for the heated birdbath yet. No juncos so far, and haven't seen a flicker for months, no cardinals for a while either. Haven't put up any feeders yet, but they will go up later this month. Lots of resident bluebirds are still around, as well as nuthatches, chickadees, downys, some blue jays. Goldfinches have been scarce ever since they pretty much stripped the sunflowers. That will change as soon as the thistle feeder goes up. Hoping the abundant crabapples will bring in the waxwings like they did year before last...nothing last year. And there is an upside to the leaves falling...better visibility. Too bad there will be so little daylight. Trade-offs! Susan