How long do flickers live?
The oldest Northern Flicker on record lived to 12.5 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild flickers live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 12.5 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 5–8 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 11–12.2 in, 3.9–5.6 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 4 of 7
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Northern Flicker can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Flickers usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 5–8 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 11–13 days to hatch.
How flickers compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other woodpeckers on this site.
- Red-bellied Woodpecker20.7 years
- Acorn Woodpecker17.2 years
- Pileated Woodpecker13 years
- Gila Woodpecker11 years
- Red-headed Woodpecker10 years
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker7.8 years
More about flickers
Frequently asked
How long do flickers live?
The longest-lived Northern Flicker on record reached 12.5 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild flickers live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Northern Flicker when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Northern Flicker ever recorded?
12.5 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Northern Flicker raise in a year?
Pairs lay 5–8 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "small". genomics.senescence.info