Male
Female
Description
Size: 12.5”
Plumage/Description: Flickers are the largest woodpecker species that occurs in Central Arizona. Male and female plumage is similar, but males have a large, bright red malar stripe—females lack this distinctive marking. The crown of the head is a rich brown color, the face and neck is gray. A bold black bib and a heavily spotted breast and belly. Back and wings are brown with black horizontal barring. In flight the under wing and under tail are a diagnostic reddish-orange color with a large white rump.
Habitat: Residential, Oak/Chaparral, Pinyon/Juniper, Ponderosa/Coniferous, Riparian/Deciduous
Time of year: Year-round
Relative Abundance: Common
Behavior: Northern Flicker is the only woodpecker species that spends a considerable amount of time down on the ground looking for insects, and eating ants. Flickers frequent both seed and suet feeders in residential settings. A cavity nester.
Diet: Insects, seeds, nuts, suet
Similar species: Other woodpecker species
Best Sites: Granite Basin, Watson Woods
