Comments on: Gorgeous Northern Flicker

By: Ken Cole

Ken Cole — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:14:58 +0000

We have a lot of flickers here in Big Bear, Calif.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=355458344480808&set=o.81446081972&type=1&theater

By: Marcell Tanus

Marcell Tanus — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:06:01 +0000

wow! thats cool! im doing that bird on a report for shoool!!!!!!!!!!! :clapping: :dance: :yahoo: :rofl:

By: Ritchie Annand

Ritchie Annand — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:14:42 +0000

I had no idea what these were until I spent a good while doing image searches on the bird names from a survey done in the nearby park. I was motivated again today because one sat on top of one of our front bay windows and stared at me upside-down for a while… not long enough to grab a camera, though.

I didn’t know they were woodpeckers – I thought they were some strange dove. Shows what I know 🙂

Beautiful birds, they are 🙂

By: Leanne

Leanne — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:27:08 +0000

Heather,

The first time I saw a Flicker, he was pecking away at the earth. Come to find out, there was a big ants nest there. They will dig for those bugs, so if you have a lot of Flickers in the yard, you may have ants or grubs that they’re going after.

They do like suet, so if you want to keep them coming try a suet feeder and suet with peanuts in it.

Sometimes, and this is pretty gross, flies lay eggs under the skin of wild animals. So what you’re seeing may very well be larvae that are about ready to hatch. There’s nothing that can be done, and nature will take its course and the bird will recover from it just fine. (I’ve had lumpy squirrels around and done a lot of research on the topic myself!)

By: Heather

Heather — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:43:53 +0000

Leanne,

I listened to the sounds, definetly the same. Got to agree, hearing them outside on the front lawn is enough to wake the dead.

Since seeing them last I put out more of the feeders they seamed to like before and have gotton quite a bit more attention. For some reason they seem to like my front lawn, the amount has expanded in the last two days to be around two dozen that I know of but I may be counting some of them twice.
___
To anyone else, there is one flicker that has been hanging around who has a really nasty infection or something just above his eye. The whole side of the head is completely swollen and I am not sure that it can even see out that eye anymore. Is there anyway to capture him without stressing him to much. There’s a place here that I can take him that helps wild birds that are injured/sick and he would be released after. It’s just that even with putting plently of feeders up he seems to be getting alot thinner and he isn’t flying as well. I’ve seen the other birds, particularly the sparrows, harrassing him. Was wondering if there’s anything I can do.

By: Leanne

Leanne — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:11:53 +0000

Heather,

Thanks for stopping by! Flickers are very good about staying out of sight. They have a really big voice and generally stay pretty high in trees and fly high, as well. You can listen to their call here:

http://www.junglewalk.com/sound/search-northern+flicker-sounds.htm

That will certainly confirm whether you’ve got some Flickers, as they are typically loud – and clear!

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:07:22 +0000

Beautiful birds, I didn’t know what they were called but I went searching on the web for them. I’ve got about a half dozen of them at my house, was wondering about them since I’ve never seen them here before.

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:02:34 +0000

Leanne,

Beautiful photo, beautiful Northern Flicker. I have a couple living in woods behind my home and have seen them raise a few chicks the past few years. But this year, both the male and female have been all over my lot looking for food – digging in mulch, digging in the lawn – the male even pounced on the Well cover and made his drumming sound (and I got to watch!).

So now I’m searching on how high to put up a Flicker house. I want to put one up because I think my woods have too many flickers in there now and need some new homes…………….

thanks for the great website!

Ken

By: Lisa's Chaos

Lisa's Chaos — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:14:19 +0000

I saw Flicker last year but wasn't able to get this close. I'm hoping to see one this summer but if not at least I get to enjoy yours. :) Lisa's Chaos's last blog post..Swampy's zany ABCs or Alphabetic Fun Monday