When do northern flickers breed

Young flickers will molt to adult plumage from June to October. The longest lifespan recorded is 9 years and 2 months for a yellow-shafted form of the Northern Flicker and 6 years and 8 months for a red-shafted form of the Northern Flicker. Most Northern Flickers probably live much less than this, maybe surviving only a few years.

Male flickers recognize females by sight. To protect his mate or territory, birds of the same sex become aggressive toward each other Palmer and Fowler Aggressive displays such as "bill directing" or "bill poking" are used by flickers.

That is, a flicker may point his bill at a rival with his head inclined forward, or actually peck at an opponent. A more aggressive display is "head swinging," whereby a flicker will use side-to-side movements of his head and body against an opponent.

There is also a "head bobbing" display that may be used. Sometimes tail spreading accompanies head swinging or bobbing displays Short , Bent Young flickers will molt to adult plumage from June to October Palmer and Fowler After the nestling period of 25 to 28 days, the young remain with the parents for some time, calling to the parents to be fed Winkler et al. Flickers have a deeply undulating flight. Their song is a loud "wick wick wick wick wick," while individual notes sound like a loud "klee-yer" and a squeaky "flick-a flick-a flick-a" Peterson That is, a flicker may point his bill at a rival with his head tilted forward, or actually peck at an opponent.

Sometimes tail spreading accompanies head swinging or bobbing displays. Flickers sing during flight. Their song is a loud "wick wick wick wick wick," while individual notes sound like a loud "klee-yer" and a squeaky "flick-a flick-a flick-a. Their chief food is ants. Other insects they consume include grasshoppers, crickets, termites, wasps, aphids, beetles and their larvae, caterpillars, and spiders.

Cherries and the berries of dogwood, Virgina creeper, poison ivy, sumac, hackberry, and blackgum are also important foods as well as weed seeds, acorns, and other types of nut kernals Palmer and Fowler , Winkler et al. In the fall and winter, greater than half their food intake is in the form of fruit Palmer and Fowler Northern flickers do not respond strongly to predators. They may make tentative flights around the predator or make bill-poking movements towards the predator.

Young in the nest are vulnerable to nest predators such as raccoons , squirrels , and snakes. Once they reach adulthood, northern flickers are preyed upon by several birds of prey that specialize on hunting birds. In eastern North America this includes Cooper's hawks and sharp-shinned hawks.

Northern Flickers help to control the populations of their invertebrate prey, especially ant populations. They also create nests that are later used by other cavity-nesting species of birds and by squirrels.

These woodpeckers are very useful destroyers of insect pests, including the European corn borer. Since they have a particular taste for ants, these woodpeckers also eliminate plant-injuring aphids which provide "honeydew" for ants Palmer and Fowler Populations are not seriously endangered by human activity, although human activity sometimes destroys their habitat.

Few conservation measures are being taken because Northern Flickers are not recognized as endangered. As a migratory North American bird they are protected by the U. Migratory Bird Act. They are grayish brown woodpeckers with horizontal barring across the back and wings. The tail is white with brownish black bars and solid black tips. The breast is light brown to off-white and has blackish brown spots. The upper breast has a black crescent-shaped patch, or bib.

The ventral surface and dorsal shafts of the wings and tail can be either bright yellow or salmon, depending on the subspecies. Subspecies also differ in throat color, crown color, and the presence of a red blaze at the nape of the neck. Present only in males is a malar stripe, or mustache, extending from the base of the bill downward below the cheek.

This mark is red in some subspecies, black in others. Juvenile plumage resembles that of the adult, but the colors are less bright. Some features, such as the malar stripe and black bib, are less distinct.

The three subspecies found on the North American continent are Yellow-shafted east of the Rocky Mountains , the Red-shafted west of the Rocky Mountains , and the Gilded in the Southwest. Flickers live in a variety of woodland habitats. They have adapted well to human habitation and occur in urban, suburban, and rural areas, in parks, and near farms and woodlots.

They nest near clearings or other open areas, at forest edges, and in forests interspersed with meadows, fields, and clear-cuts. Nests are also found in savannas and near swamps, ponds, and recently flooded areas containing snags. The Gilded Flicker subspecies nests in saguaro cacti.

Northern Flicker numbers have declined over the past 20 years. This decline is thought to result from a combination of factors, including intense competition with the European Starling for nest sites and reduction in possible nest sites due to the removal of dead and dying trees. Diet Northern Flickers are the most terrestrial of all North American woodpeckers.

These birds are commonly seen hopping along the ground foraging for ants. In fact, flickers eat more ants than any other bird species in North America. Flickers also forage in the trees, where they hawk and glean beetles, wasps, and caterpillars and probe into the bark for insect larvae. They also eat worms, acorns, nuts, and grains.

During late autumn, winter, and early spring, flickers consume berries and other fruits of wild trees and shrubs. Occasionally they visit feeders. North America. Caribbean Islands, Central America. Biome Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest. Tropical dry forest. Temperate coniferous forest. Urban wildlife. Climate zones Tropical. Habits and Lifestyle Northern flickers are diurnal birds. Group name.

Terrestrial, Arboreal, Altricial. Seasonal behavior. Partially migrant. Diet and Nutrition Northern flickers are omnivores. Diet Omnivore, Insectivores, Frugivore, Granivore. Population Trend. Least concern LC. Population Population threats Northern flickers don't face major threats at present. Population number According to the What Bird resource, the total population size of the Northern flicker is around 16,, individuals.

Ecological niche Northern flickers help to control the populations of their prey species, especially ants. Fun Facts for Kids There are over common names for the Northern flicker are known; these include clape, gaffer woodpecker, harry-wicket, heigh-ho, wake-up, walk-up, wick-up, yarrup, and gawker bird.

Many of these names derive from attempts to imitate some of its calls. As well as eating ants, Northern flickers exhibit a behavior known as anting. They use the formic acid from the ants to assist in preening, as it helps them to get rid of parasites.

Northern flickers prefer to create their own nesting cavities and it takes about 1 to 2 weeks for a mated pair to build their nest. It is thought that the Northern flicker has the longest tongue among all North American birds.

References 1. Included in Lists Birds of Canada. Birds of Mexico. Birds of Cuba. Birds of Denmark. Related Animals Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.