![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvE_1icb1lrkdWOctgbpjvTTBvAvZ-kVwY2K_Ul84Gjd4dwbXrKJex2S18t9N9Z7I2qNHVzLv4C3mwxuysxc2__h11YO-vM9zjr0Nx1g3vgjpB8EC22JgXg81gdYLyJ5qBd5Yx4up58wD/s320/Northern-Yellow-shafted-Fli.jpg) |
Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker at Rowe Sanctuary, Nebraska; 7-11-10. |
We also saw several Northern Flickers at the Rowe Sanctuary, the Eastern version, or the "Yellow-shafted" Flicker. Unfortunately I didn't get a great picture of the male (Above) with its prominent black malar (the stripe between the throat and the mustache line). He always seemed to be behind a branch, too far away, or in a shadow. Good identifying features of a Northern Flicker are its black malar, spotted belly, a red crescent on its nape, a black breast band, its white rump, and when it's in flight the underwings are yellow.
The photo (Below) of the same Flicker was in the shadow of a branch that made him appear as if he was wearing a black cap. Initially when I first looked at the photo I didn't even recognize it as a Flicker.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh8IfbD64h8AFqe8U8M1ZWt6VU24Mes9Vc9dHb_bhgbXSZsQ4l0od7W7P3H5GHpjpHatFMsKlAO0SOsrHSwnvbeL3EWVgJ5y2AbivAmTJ45PNBSAmSkOCnYpGEMdbJMRgYusxXMYVRwgJ/s320/Northern-Flicker,-Rowe-Sanc.jpg) |
The shadow on the top of this Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker made it look like he was wearing a black cap and hood surrounding a reddish face. This lighting confused my identification, made it look some kind of a weird cross between a wild turkey and a tree perching bird. If I didn't also have the photo (At Top), I still might have stuck it in my "unknown bird" file. |
It's black-spotted belly and breast is a sure give-away that it's a Flicker, as no other woodpecker type bird has such definite spotted markings. Other woodpeckers markings on the belly are more of a barred shaped or plain. The photo (Below) is the female Yellow-shafted Flicker. It's identical to the male except without the black malar. On this photo you can see the red crescent on its nape and its white rump.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Kdh1xrPVy2wQ1qxsaP8v8e-100NSEb7OknBOmsp2tO4upRuopZ_Uz_XTTiuADaDPIFBo-hb1HOdX6iauLQX6fcewRVmBhCgFx7LEGu3H8XngVIKw5dKV_d1INXQ9x0FJdd3_HNlXgWjW/s320/Northern-Flicker,-female,-R.jpg) |
Female Yellow-shafted Flicker showing off its red crescent on its nape and white rump which is identical to the male, but does not sport the black malar. |
The Western version of the Northern Flicker is the Red-shafted Flicker (Below). It is identical to the Yellow-shafted Flicker except its malar is bright red instead of black and it doesn't sport the red crescent on the nape. Also in flight, its underwings are more reddish-orange instead of yellow. It seems that most of the time when I see a Red-shafted Flicker, it's uually foraging on the ground, but when I see a Yellow-shafted Flicker, it's usually clinging to a dead branch up high in a tree.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBibCm4dQX99qO4fWxVOiXju50t4EwiZqeu8li2A6OGcZUjwNG3skzJuwaYed-KMTWt8nHMyu2oLBZuGyilTz7aAPbPBQ3ETgVtAwfCwYsZ6W524_gC-WH6BysBsTuGRjf1nf8UfGSFC2O/s320/NrthRs-Flk,-RMNPf.jpg) |
A female Red-shafted Flicker; Rocky Mountain Nat. Park, CO; 7-8-10. |
Pretty little guys...I love that last shot on the pine...so simple that it lets the flicka shine!
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