Northern Flicker

LC - Least Concern

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

not listed

Northern Flicker is a common large woodpecker. Adults average 12½″ to 13″ in length with a 20″ wingspan.

The body and wings are grayish-brown. The wings and back are barred. The tail is black on the top. The underside of the wings and tail are yellow. The rump, only visible in flight, is white. The breast and belly are buff to whitish and are heavily covered with black spots. The breast has a large black crescent.

The crown and the nape of the neck are gray. There is a bright red crescent on the nape of the neck. The chin and throat are tan. The face is brownish to buff. The male has a prominent black mark behind the bill usually described as a “mustache stripe.” The bill is long.

This bird is often seen flying away from the observer, making it impossible to see the head and neck markings. In these situations the white rump, conspicuous in flight, is the most useful identification mark.

12½″ to 13″ in length

20″ wingspan

The song is a loud and rapid wick-wick-wick-wick-wick-wick. Each note bends upward.

Open woodlands and forest edges, fields, and meadows; swamps in winter

Late February to late November

Between February and July the male and female join together and excavate a new nest usually in a dead or dying deciduous tree, sometimes in a telephone pole or fence post. Less commonly, they will repair and reuse an existing cavity or use a birdhouse. Excavation takes about 2 weeks. The female lays 5 to 8 large, glossy white eggs. Both sexes incubate the eggs for 11 to 16 days, and after hatching, both sexes feed the young. Fledglings leave the nest 25 to 28 days after hatching.

Mostly ants found on the ground. Also other insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, termites, wasps, aphids, beetles, beetle larvae, and caterpillars; spiders, In late fall and early spring they also eat cherries; berries, including dogwood, Virginia creeper, poison ivy, sumac, and hackberry; and nuts, including acorns. Overwintering individuals regularly visit suet feeders.

Common to abundant migrant and breeder

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

In 1995 the American Ornithologist’s Union (AOU) split the Northern Flicker into two species, Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) and Gilded Flicker (Colaptes chrysoides).

Some authorities, including the International Ornithologists’ Union (IOU), recognize ten subspecies (nine extant, one extinct). In this classification, Yellow Shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus luteus) is the only subspecies found in Minnesota. Other authorities recognize only two subspecies. In this classification, Yellow Shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus auratus) is the only subspecies found in Minnesota.

Just hanging out under the deck

Northern Flicker (Yellowtail) at Breezy Point Resort 2011. Seen on the point north of the resort on Pelican Lake.

Location:  Long Lake, MN

It was sitting in a tree right near a window.  We have 2 suet feeders out, so it was probably on one of them.  Male.

Location: Inver Grove Heights

It was at our suet feeder.  It would flap its wings while positioning on the feeder and its bright yellow underside of its wings was such a fun surprise. 

Location: Royalton, Benton County

Just hanging out under the deck

Location: Rochester, MN

Location: Minneapolis, Seward Neighborhood

2-3 in our yard

Location: Plymouth

I have three of them hanging out.

Location: Lakeville, MN

sitting on our bird feeder pole & flew away into the trees

Location: Slayton MN

Location: Vermillion MN

Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus luteus)

Location: Eagan, MN

My first sighting of a Northern Flicker!  He was eating "hearts and parts" bird seed out of my Squirrel Buster Plus feeder.

Location: Middle Rice Creek in New Brighton MN

Location: Breezy Point Resort, Crow Wing County

Northern Flicker (Yellowtail) at Breezy Point Resort 2011. Seen on the point north of the resort on Pelican Lake.