![gilded flicker gilded flicker](https://www.beautyofbirds.com/images/birds/woodpeckers/gildedflicker.jpg)
In parts of Texas, they are year-round residents. Distribution The "yellow-shafted flicker" (yellow under wings) migrates from Alaska to Nicaragua. Northern flickers tend to avoid unbroken or dense forests, preferring to forage for food in open areas. Habitat Flickers like woodlands, especially where dead or partially dead trees for nesting sites can be found. The species, auratus, is from the Latin root aurat, meaning "gold" or "golden" and refers to its underwing. The genus name Colaptes is from the Greek word colapt and means "peck", which is, after all, what woodpeckers do best. Both parents contribute to nest construction and incubation.
![gilded flicker gilded flicker](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0r9OXQYg1cA/T02zhkGonjI/AAAAAAAAB-0/fwUvMwwLqWk/s1600/Northern+Flicker_+Gary+Mueller_MO_2011-552.jpg)
Northern flickers will take advantage of an existing nest site or man-made nest boxes. When mating, the males flash their bright bellies, breasts and rump patches, flap their wings, and swing their heads back and forth. Although diurnal, these birds tend to migrate at night, with weather determining both migration rates and departure dates. Northern flickers are diurnal (most active during the daylight hours). Under ideal conditions, two broods may be raised in one season. Young leave the nest about four weeks after hatching. Females usually lay five to eight eggs, which hatch after 11 to 16 days. The nest's entrance is about 2.75 inches (7 cm) in diameter. Nests are excavated in dead trees or dead portions of living trees, generally 6 to 20 feet (1.8 to 6 m) above the ground, but as high as 100 feet (30 m). Its mating season lasts from February through July. The northern flicker reaches sexual maturity at one year. Its predators include raccoons, feral cats, and hawks. Life History Ants and other insects, nuts, fruit and seeds make up the northern flicker's diet.
GILDED FLICKER PATCH
Its white rump patch flashes as it flies, hence, "flicker." It is the only woodpecker that feeds on the ground. Other distinguishing characteristics include a pale breast with black spots crescent-shaped patch at the base of the throat white rump yellow breast and undersides of their wings (but red in western populations) and downward curving bill. The northern flicker is the only member of the woodpecker species with a brown-colored back. It has a gray-brown back with dark spots and a red crescent at the nape of the neck. However, general birding over a day usually produces a few birds, especially in towns with scattered trees and in semi-wooded residential areas.Northern Flicker ( Colaptes auratus) Description The northern flicker reaches a height of 12 to 13 inches (30 to 33 cm), with an 18- to 21-inch (45 to 53 cm) wingspan. The species is difficult to target, because it occurs as a widespread species in many habitats, yet is not overly common. At mid-elevations (3,500 feet to about 5,000 feet), fairly common as a breeder, but uncommon in winter above 5,000 feet, uncommon as a breeder, and likely absent in the middle of winter. Across the lower elevations, generally fairly common all year. Permanent resident, with some migratory movements, except very rare to absent at elevations above perhaps 5,000 feet in winter. At times, noticeable migratory movements seen in fall, but not as prominent as along the coast. Generally fairly common in summer, and fairly common to common at other seasons.
![gilded flicker gilded flicker](https://nhpbs.org/wild/images/northernflickerusfwdavemenke.jpg)
Permanent resident, with some migratory movements. Uncommon to fairly common along the Outer Banks and other barrier islands in summer, and fairly common to often common at other seasons at times quite common in fall. Over most of the region, generally fairly common in summer, and common at other seasons. Permanent resident, with migratory movements. NOTE: There are four state reports of "Red-shafted Flickers" ( Colaptes auratus cafer), formerly considered as a valid species. Habitats in fall and winter are similar, though sizable numbers can often be seen in small areas, even in plowed fields, other croplands, and large lawns, as well as in swamps and other moderately forested habitats. In the breeding season, Flickers occur in semi-wooded residential areas, parks, open woods, beaver ponds, and groves of trees in open country - typically shunning deeper forests. The Northern Flicker is one of the more familiar woodpeckers to backyard birders, as it often feeds on the ground on lawns, and drums on telephone poles or metal gutters. In general, it tends to be more numerous in the state in winter than in summer, except in the middle and higher parts of the mountains. Though the Flicker might not seem obviously migratory in many areas of the state, as it remains numerous all year long, along the coast one can see noticeable movements southward in the fall, and birds may appear in places in winter where it is absent in the summer. Of the eight species of woodpeckers in the state, only the Northern Flicker, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker are considerably migratory.