About the Northern Flicker
The northern flicker or common flicker is a medium-sized bird of the woodpecker family. It is native to most of North America, parts of Central America, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands, and is one of the few woodpecker species that migrate. Over 100 common names for the northern flicker are known, including yellowhammer, 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Adults are brown with black bars on the back and wings. A mid- to large-sized northern flicker measures 28–36 cm (11–14 in) in length and 42–54 cm (16+1⁄2–21+1⁄2 in) in wingspan. The body mass can vary from 86 to 167 g (3 to 5+7⁄8 oz). Among standard scientific measurements, the wing bone measures 12.2–17.1 cm (4+13⁄16–6+3⁄4 in), the tail measures 7.5–11.5 cm (3–4+1⁄2 in), the bill measures 2.2–4.3 cm (7⁄8–1+11⁄16 in) and the tarsus measures 2.2–3.1 cm (7⁄8–1+1⁄4 in).
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Northern Flicker sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Portugal.
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Golden-olive WoodpeckerColaptes rubiginosusThe golden-olive woodpecker is 18 to 23 cm (7.1 to 9.1 in) long.
Green-barred WoodpeckerColaptes melanochlorosThe green-barred woodpecker is 27 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in) long and weighs 80 to 178 g (2.8 to 6.3 oz).
Campo FlickerColaptes campestrisThe campo flicker is about 30 cm (12 in) long and weighs about 150 g (5.3 oz).
Side by side: Golden-olive Woodpecker vs Northern Flicker · Green-barred Woodpecker vs Northern Flicker · Campo Flicker vs Northern Flicker
Learn the Northern Flicker for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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