ML646731882

Observation details

An adult male Northern Flicker showed up in the yard today. It is the first time I have notice it this year, but I'm sure it's been around recently. The bird was initially foraging in some leaf litter but moved down to my feeders and fed off suet crumbs on the ground. It seems to be an adult male...not a first-year bird either. I have had one male Flicker in the winter before in 2021 and it was very similar to this individual. In years prior I also had an intergrade (Yellow Shafted x Red Shafted) hybrid...it came faithfully for 4 years every winter. This bird is definitely pure yellow-shafted as it strongly displays characteristics of that subspecies...most notably the beautiful golden yellow color on the underside of its wings and tail and a black malar stripe. I'm so stoked to have this bird around and hope he comes back!