Perch Supply
Woodpeckers (Picidae)

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus. Mainly ants and beetles dug from the ground; fruit in winter.

Woodpeckers (Picidae)Northern FlickerColaptes auratus
Scientific name
Colaptes auratus
Length
11–12.2 in
Weight
3.9–5.6 oz
Nest
Excavated cavity in dead or soft trees and utility poles
Entrance hole
2 1/2 in
Clutch
5–8 eggs
Incubation
11–13 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • Brown with black bars and spotted belly
  • Black crescent bib
  • Yellow (east) or red (west) wing and tail linings; white rump

Voice

Loud 'wick-wick-wick' and a piercing 'klee-yer'.

Diet and feeding

Mainly ants and beetles dug from the ground; fruit in winter.

What do flickers eat? · Best feeder for flickers

Northern Flickers by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaYear-round residentMarch–June
AlaskaSummer breederMay–June
AlbertaSummer breederMay–June
ArizonaYear-round residentMarch–June
ArkansasYear-round residentApril–June
British ColumbiaYear-round residentMay–June
CaliforniaYear-round residentMarch–June
ColoradoYear-round residentApril–June
ConnecticutYear-round residentApril–June
DelawareYear-round residentApril–June
FloridaYear-round residentMarch–June
GeorgiaYear-round residentMarch–June
IdahoYear-round residentApril–June
IllinoisYear-round residentApril–June
IndianaYear-round residentApril–June
IowaYear-round residentApril–June
KansasYear-round residentApril–June
KentuckyYear-round residentApril–June
LouisianaYear-round residentMarch–June
MaineYear-round residentMay–June
ManitobaSummer breederMay–June
MarylandYear-round residentApril–June
MassachusettsYear-round residentApril–June
MichiganYear-round residentApril–June
MinnesotaYear-round residentMay–June
MississippiYear-round residentMarch–June
MissouriYear-round residentApril–June
MontanaYear-round residentMay–June
NebraskaYear-round residentApril–June
NevadaYear-round residentApril–June
New BrunswickSummer breederMay–June
New HampshireYear-round residentMay–June
New JerseyYear-round residentApril–June
New MexicoYear-round residentApril–June
New YorkYear-round residentApril–June
Newfoundland and LabradorSummer breederMay–June
North CarolinaYear-round residentApril–June
North DakotaYear-round residentMay–June
Northwest TerritoriesSummer breederMay–June
Nova ScotiaSummer breederMay–June
OhioYear-round residentApril–June
OklahomaYear-round residentApril–June
OntarioYear-round residentMay–June
OregonYear-round residentApril–June
PennsylvaniaYear-round residentApril–June
Prince Edward IslandSummer breederMay–June
QuebecSummer breederMay–June
Rhode IslandYear-round residentApril–June
SaskatchewanSummer breederMay–June
South CarolinaYear-round residentMarch–June
South DakotaYear-round residentApril–June
TennesseeYear-round residentApril–June
TexasYear-round residentMarch–June
UtahYear-round residentApril–June
VermontYear-round residentMay–June
VirginiaYear-round residentApril–June
WashingtonYear-round residentApril–June
West VirginiaYear-round residentApril–June
WisconsinYear-round residentMay–June
WyomingYear-round residentMay–June
YukonSummer breederMay–June

Frequently asked

What do flickers eat?

Mainly ants and beetles dug from the ground; fruit in winter. At feeders: suet, peanut hearts.

How big is a Northern Flicker?

11–12.2 in long and 3.9–5.6 oz.

Do flickers use birdhouses?

Yes — a 2 1/2 in entrance, 7 × 7 in floor, mounted 6–20 ft.

Sources

  1. Northern Flicker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Northern Flicker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Northern Flicker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.