Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)
I shot this colorful guy at my favorite park, Katherine Albertson’s in Boise, Idaho. Though this male Red-Shafted Flicker is quite the beauty, he is simply considered a common ant-eating woodpecker. However, God manufactured the Northern Flicker with many unique attributes and He made it available in two colorful designs. One Flicker comes in a yellow-shafted model—each flight feather has a yellow shaft line and the tail underside feathers are covered in sunshine yellow. This bird is common across the eastern and northern parts of North America. The other Flicker is a red-shafted model—each flight feather has a red shaft line and the tail underside feathers are covered in lively red. This bird is located in the west. Male red Flickers possess a red mustache and the yellow a black mustache. The females display no mustaches—imagine that. You can tell from the photo, they also exhibit a striking polka dotted body. When the Flicker is fully examined, you witness the full colorful pattern display of this intriguing Avis.
Flickers are a medium-sized member of the woodpecker family (approximately 12 inches in length), being native to most of North America, parts of Central America, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands. Heavy lancinating bills and thick neck muscles equip them for hammering trees. Sharp claws enable them to clutch onto the sides of trees. It is distinguished from other woodpeckers as revealed in the National Audubon Society Field Guide of North America
“Flickers are the only woodpeckers that frequently feed on the ground.”
Sometimes, they actually catch insects in flight. Although they eat fruits, berries, seeds and nuts, their primary staple is insects. They possess an intricately created long barbed tongue that laps up tasty ants. Those delectable ants compose 45% of their diet. They also own an interesting behavior called “anting“—the act of birds rubbing insects on their feathers (usually ants) which secrete liquids containing chemicals such as formic acid, that acts as an insecticide, miticide (eliminates mites, aphids and flies), and fungicide. There are over 250 species of birds that have been known to engage in “anting” behavior. You must admit, they are quite the work of design.
There are over 100 common names for the Northern Flicker and some produce a grin. Here are just a few dubs: heigh-ho (no “off to work we go,” however) harry-wicket, wake-up, gawker bird, flick-a flicka, clape, gaffer, walk-up, wick-up, and yarrup. Many of the tags attempt to imitate its calls.
They are cavity masters who typically nest in trees—designing their own tree houses with their powerful beaks; though they will impliment posts and birdhouses. They will renovate damaged or abandoned nests.
It takes about one to two weeks for the parents (who often mate for life) to construct a homey nest. A typical clutch (the total number of laid eggs) consists of 6 to 8. The shells are pure white with a smooth surface, topped with a high gloss that sets off their beauty. Both parents are part of the incubation process, lasting 11 to 12 days. The young are fed by regurgitation and fledge (fly) 25 to 28 days after hatching. Flickers are one of the few woodpeckers that migrate south.
You can attract Flickers to your yard using suet and black oil sunflower seeds.
God implimented a sense of humor when He created our feathered friends and other creaures as revealed in Job chapter 39. If you turn to this text, you will note God asks many questions to get us to think things through regarding creation and His sovereignty; all the while, putting smiles on our faces through the educational process.
The LORD sets forth His own path of apologetics in this reality classroom, implimenting various fauna to display creation’s truths. Through His instruction, He makes it clear everything formed by Him is unique and marvelous including winged creatures. Every critter is powerfully fashioned and owns a distinquishing personality. Some actually laugh, but of course, in their own specie way.
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
Editor: “I inserted a picture we just took on vacation of a Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) taken at Big Lagoon State Park, FL (near Pensacola).
Some Wikipedia “Flicker” information used as background material.
