Northern Flickers in Ohio
When flickers are present in Ohio, when they nest, which native Ohio plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.
- Status in Ohio
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7a
- Nest box
- 2 1/2 in hole, 7 × 7 in floor, 6–20 ft
When to expect flickers in Ohio
Northern Flickers live in Ohio all year. Snow and sub-freezing stretches are routine; Carolina Chickadees hold the south and Black-capped the north. 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.
Humid continental; cold winters and warm summers, with Lake Erie moderating the north coast.
Nesting in Ohio
Across Ohio, 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, humid summers; western Lake Erie marshes are a major migration stopover.
- 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 Ohio plants that attract flickers
Of the regional native plants we track for Ohio, these 8 provide food or cover flickers use:
Early fruit.
High-fat fall berries.
Winter cover and fruit.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
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 Ohio 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 Ohio's winter: Snow and sub-freezing stretches are routine; Carolina Chickadees hold the south and Black-capped the north.
Frequently asked
Are flickers in Ohio year-round?
Yes. Northern Flickers are year-round residents in Ohio.
When do flickers nest in Ohio?
Nesting in Ohio typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.
What native plants attract flickers in Ohio?
Serviceberry, Spicebush, Eastern red cedar, Flowering dogwood, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak are native plants in Ohio 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 Ohio
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 — Ohio
- 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.