Northern Flickers in North Carolina
When flickers are present in North Carolina, when they nest, which native North Carolina plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–8b yard.
- Status in North Carolina
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–8b
- Nest box
- 2 1/2 in hole, 7 × 7 in floor, 6–20 ft
When to expect flickers in North Carolina
Northern Flickers live in North Carolina all year. Black-capped Chickadees and other northern birds are confined to the highest mountains; lowlands stay mild. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward poison ivy, dogwood, sumac and bayberry fruit.
Mountains, Piedmont and coastal plain differ sharply — cool, snowy highlands to mild, humid coast.
Nesting in North Carolina
Across North Carolina, flickers typically nest from April–June. Nest site: excavated cavity in dead or soft trees and utility poles. Females lay 5–8 eggs, incubate for 11–13 days, and young leave the nest after 24–27 days.
Warm and humid in the Piedmont and coast; cooler at elevation.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — flickers begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 2 1/2 in entrance on a 7 × 7 in floor, mounted 6–20 ft.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after June.
Native North Carolina plants that attract flickers
Of the regional native plants we track for North Carolina, these 8 provide food or cover flickers use:
The state flower and a top fall fruit source.
Red fruit held into winter.
June fruit.
Winter food and cover.
Long nectar season.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Feeding flickers through the North Carolina year
Flickers feed on lawns more than any other woodpecker and will use nest boxes packed with wood chips.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanut hearts.
- In North Carolina's winter: Black-capped Chickadees and other northern birds are confined to the highest mountains; lowlands stay mild.
Frequently asked
Are flickers in North Carolina year-round?
Yes. Northern Flickers are year-round residents in North Carolina.
When do flickers nest in North Carolina?
Nesting in North Carolina typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.
What native plants attract flickers in North Carolina?
Flowering dogwood, Winterberry, Serviceberry, Eastern red cedar, Coral honeysuckle, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak are native plants in North Carolina that provide food or cover for flickers.
What size birdhouse hole do flickers need?
2 1/2 in, with a floor of 7 × 7 in mounted 6–20 ft.
Northern Flickers in other regions
Other backyard birds in North Carolina
Sources
- Northern Flicker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Flicker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Flicker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — North Carolina
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.