The Northern Flicker is unusual for being one of few North American Woodpeckers that exhibits strong migratory behaviour. Those populations in the southern and central parts of the species’ range may remain in the same location all year round, but those at more northerly locations tend to travel southwards before the onset of winter. While migrating, they fly low over the ground, often in large flocks.
Although it can climb up the trunk of trees and hammer on wood like other Woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker prefers to find food on the ground. Ants are their main food, and the Flicker digs in the dirt to find them. It uses its long barbed tongue to lap up the ants.
Like most Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers drum on objects as a form of communication and territory defense. In such cases, the object is to make as loud a noise as possible, and that’s why Woodpeckers sometimes drum on metal objects (like the top of our fireplace chimney).
Two Forms Found in Alberta
Formerly, the Red-shafted and Yellow-shafted forms of the Northern Flicker were considered different species. The two forms hybridize extensively in a wide zone from Alaska to the panhandle of Texas. A hybrid often has some traits from each of the two forms and some traits that are intermediate between them. The Red-shafted will also hybridize with the Gilded Flicker, but less frequently.
Nesting
Northern Flickers generally nest in holes in trees like other Woodpeckers. Occasionally, they’ve been found nesting in old, earthen burrows vacated by Belted Kingfishers or Bank Swallows. And they sometimes build in a location where they are not wanted such as the attic of a house. If this happens the homeowner faces a bit of a challenge. There isn’t anything they can legally do since the particular species is protected. Even yelling at the bird, or preventing it from returning if it left, would be considered illegal. This is a pretty strict piece of legislation dubbed the Migratory Birds Convention Act. Chris Fisher, ecologist, (you may remember him as the co-author of The Birds of Alberta) says the key migratory birds and their nests are protected not only from destruction, but also from disturbance as well, so it’s actually a pretty significant piece of legislation.
Nest Boxes
A possible solution to prevent this from happening is to provide them with an alternate nesting option. Exclusive to THE WILD BIRD STORE, Flicker nest box have a plexiglass front which prevents other birds from accessing the entry hole. Because Northern Flickers (and other Woodpeckers) have a 5th toe called the hallux, they have no problem clinging to the wood behind the plexiglass. Check them out on our website by clicking here. But keep in mind, just providing an alternate nesting option does not guarantee it will be used, or will stop them from drilling holes into your home.
