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