View allAll Photos Tagged Flickered
During a garden pool wedding last 9/30/06, a candle stand used as a centerpiece in our table caught my attention when 5 insects playing around the flickering flame were caught-- could have been their last blissful play. It then reminds me of a famous legend in our Philippine folklore book-- I forgot the title. Will anyone help me remember ?
The northern flicker, aka common flicker, boreal flicker, Cuban flicker, gilded flicker, yellowhammer, yellow-shafted flicker, gilded woodpecker, golden-winged woodpecker, and many more, can be found from Alaska, down through Canada, United States, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Saint Pierre, Miquelon, and Mexico. These birds have a large population but are decreasing in numbers due, in part, to habitat loss. They are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
First the Stats...
Scientific name: Colaptes auratus
Weight: Up to 4.2 ounces
Length: Up to 14 inches
Wingspan: Up to 21 inches
Lifespan: Up to 9 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) A group of flickers is called a drumming or descent.
2.) They prefer open habitats close to trees, woodlands, groves, clearings, forest edges, burnt areas, agricultural lands, parks, yards, wet areas like stream-side woodlands, flooded swamps, mangrove vegetation, and the edges of marshes.
3.) Northern flickers are diurnal (active during the day).
4.) Foraging usually takes place on the ground, alone, in pairs, or in small descents.
5.) These birds will sometimes coexist with sparrows and blackbirds.
But wait, there's more on the northern flicker!
6.) They communicate via a loud, long "ki ki ki ki." They also drum on metal objects and trees to denote territory.
7.) Being omnivores (eat plant and animal matter), these critters feast on ants, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, and snails.
The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) on the left hopped closer to the other backing it onto its tail. It seems like it's trying to intimidate the Flicker on the right, perhaps hoping it will fly off and avoid the physical flight altogether. It didn't work. Taken in Irma, Wisconsin (Lincoln County) on April 18, 2014.
Northern Flicker photographed by Birdtographer, Phil Cowan using a Sony DSC-H5 at 1230 on December 15, 2011 in California City Tierra del Sol Golf Course.
Two common flickers fighting in a tree in my front yard. I pulled up to my house and had to get my camera out to snap a few shots of these two chasing each other around. I used a 7D with a 70-200 f2.8.
HMMM, frozen suet on a -30c morning . This shot was taken thru the kitchen window because of the very cold morning we had. The bird still has a speck of his breakfast on his face. Well, I suppose if ate breakfast outside when it was -30 I would probably be a little messy myself.
These two flickers caught my attention as they were squawking at one another. They squabbled with each other; as I was excitedly taking many photos of their interaction.
Northern Flicker © Clark Anderson. Photo taken on the Flying Circus Birders of Boulder Walk on November 21, 2020.