For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Hi everyone! Here we are with today’s bird, the “northern yellow-shafted flicker”. The pics show the back and front of the bird. This one is a male, known by it’s black mustache. Both sexes have the red on the back of the neck. This woodpecker is only a summer visitor for us and is a bit odd for a woodpecker. This one spends most of it’s time on the ground where it eats it’s main food, which is ants. They also eat beetles, flies and numerous other harmful insects, plus a few good insects as well. But overall they are good to have around. They nest in tree cavities like other woodpeckers usually making it about 16 inches (40cm) deep. They will often use nesting boxes (bird houses) if made to the right size. I have made some for these birds and they have been used right from the first year. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve, the Golden Flicker (as we call it here, or “Northern Flicker”) is one of my favorite birds. Years ago I was talking on the phone with my sis when a Golden Flicker stopped for a sip in our birdbath. I almost dropped the phone – what a beautiful bird! Since then I’ve seen more of them, but each time their speckled golden coat with red thatch astounds!!
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They definitely are a beautiful bird, we get a lot of them up here in summer. They have many regional names, over 100 in fact! I have heard some, like yours, plus yellow flicker, yellow shafted flicker, spotted flicker, ant flicker. They are a very beneficial bird to have around, especially for people with ant problems. Hopefully I can get a better pic this summer.ππΊπ·
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WOW Another great one
Keep laughing, It’s all a bit of nothing
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Glad you are enjoying these Mr. Ohh!ππΈπ·
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Has Muffin threatened to eat the bird of the day yet?π
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No, but she does enjoy looking at all the different varieties of chicken dinners.πΉπ»π
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Cap’n Blood stalks my bird feeders for hours. She wants to nab a Downey in the worst way
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They will do that, that’s for sure!
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Yes, such a beautiful bird! Thanks for providing such interesting information on these birds. ππ
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More lovely photos of your feathered friends
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Thanks Sheree!
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Youβre very welcome
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We get flickers here as well…havenβt seen one yet…very little snow here…lots of green grass…but it is only March and we may still have more snow…good pics ! βοΈβοΈπ·πΊπ
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Yes, we could get more snow, but hopefully we won’t. A little early for flickers yet, but I’m surprised that other birds haven’t shown up yet.ππΈπ·
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That’s a pretty bird and it’s good to know how beneficial birds can be by keeping the insect population at bay. Callie enjoys watching the birds and squirrels out the window. βοΈβοΈπ¦ π€π· πΈ π¦πΈ
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Yes, they are a very pretty bird and one that is nice to have around. Muffin enjoys the squirrels and chipmunks best of all.ππΉππ·
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Steve, I am learning much from these bird posts. Thanks for sharing them.
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My pleasure, I’m glad you are enjoying them.
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