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Northern flicker

16 years ago

I've had downy woodpeckers at my suet feeder all year. A few days ago I was treated to the first red-bellied woodpecker since last winter. Yesterday I was very surprised to look out at the suet and see a northern flicker hammering away. I had not see a flicker in years. Boy, they sure are big compared to the downys. I hope it comes back.

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Comments (6)

chickadeemelrose
16 years ago
We had our first (and only so far) flicker this summer - he took up the whole bird bath! He was beautiful, very exotic looking compared to our usual finches etc. I was so intrigued by him I watched him the whole time he was here, finding ants.

Congratulations!
ronm80
16 years ago
aren't they beautiful. I have only seen one in my yard eating something at the bottom of a pine. You give me hope of seeing one at my suet feeders.
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Awww...I hope I see a baby flicker! My baby wrens flew away last week (I know, house wrens are bad..but they nested before I knew what they were!) and it was really sweet to see them trying out their wings. As for becoming addicted, I already am!! Due to health issues, I've become fairly housebound, and I find myself watching the birds far more than the television! Sometimes I feel like if I stop watching for a moment, I'll miss something really special..lol!! My husband is actually going to build a small deck off of our master bedroom for "optimal bird viewing"...that side of our house faces the woods and the feeding station I have set up in the side yard...it's the perfect spot for relaxing and enjoying all of the critters that visit the yard!
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Comments (21)
Same dilemma as to what these are. Took this pix last month, dark beaks and the top one looks like the legs are reddish. I took this a month ago so don't remember how large the birds were, far away up in a tree. Follow up: Bob Carlton Rossmoor Nature Ass'n Prez identified these as European Starlings in fall plummage. More bird images in that gallery. Here is a link that might be useful: Birds congregating...Starlings This post was edited by Cowgirl_in_the_Sand on Wed, Dec 12, 12 at 13:03
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Comments (4)
Thanks lovefornature, claire, and kendra2... it's always our pleasure to share our birds with others who enjoy them. lovefornature - It takes time to attract a lot of birds to your yard or garden. But providing them with fresh water, healthy foods, and a variety of plants and trees for cover will eventually bring many lovely birds within reach of your lens. I think most folks have lots more birds near their homes than they ever see. We've spent years watching ours and trying to give them every reason to visit us... Simply tending to and observing them consistently over the years has allowed us to photograph 70 species from the comfort of our deck. Thanks again all, and happy birding. Kenn Here is a link that might be useful: Birds Blossoms,&Butterflies Vol 5
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Comments (5)
Your pictures are great! I've had only one Northern Flicker and that was about 3 months ago and I've got 3 suet feeders! Lucky you!
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cjc45
16 years ago
I used to hear them in Georgia but hardly ever saw one. I guess they like their privacy.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
16 years ago
I don't see them often in warm weather, but they sometimes come to my suet and particularly to the heated bird bath in cold weather. The warm water seems to be the biggest draw in icy temperatures.

A week ago I saw this one in a pine tree - maybe a juvenile?

Claire
brojekk
16 years ago
I love flickers. They're in my top 10 favorite birds.
I havn't seen them in a long time though,I would often hear them in early March when they return from migration.
donald lucius
16 years ago
the flickers here stay up in the pines and spruce forest on the mountains from spring thru fall. But as the mountains get snow packed they move down here for awhile till they move further south for the winter. And again in earlt spring they pass thru here again.

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