Bird guide · Colaptes auratus
Northern Flicker
What the northern flicker eats, where it lives, when it comes to feeders and how to recognise it – with sightings from every US state.
- Season
- Partial migrant; northern birds are strongly migratory.
- Size
- 11.5 in (29.5 cm)
- Eats
- sunflower seeds, berries
- Feeds
- ground, tray/platform
- Most common
- Colorado, Montana, Oregon
Food
What do northern flickers eat?
At feeders, northern flickers take sunflower seeds, berries.
Often feeds on the ground, digging for ants.
Feeder that suits it
A suet cage on a tree trunk or pole; peanuts and sunflower hearts work too.
Range
Where do northern flickers live?
Throughout most of North America. By share of all bird sightings, northern flickers are most common in Colorado (2.7%).
States where northern flickers are most common
- Colorado2.7%
- Montana2.4%
- Oregon2.3%
- Washington2.2%
- Idaho2.2%
- Wyoming1.9%
- New Mexico1.9%
- Nebraska1.7%
- Utah1.7%
- Pennsylvania1.6%
Share of all bird sightings in each state that are northern flickers, 2019–2024.
Season
Does the northern flicker migrate?
Partial migrant; northern birds are strongly migratory.. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in October.
Share of all bird sightings in the US that are northern flickers, by month.
Identification
How to identify the northern flicker
Adults: Brown with black-barred back, black chest patch and spotted belly; yellow (East) or salmon-red (West) under wings and tail; male has a black or red moustache.
Size: 11.5 in (29.5 cm)
Nesting
Does the northern flicker use nest boxes?
Yes. Entrance hole 2 1/2 in (64 mm); pack the box full of wood chips (NestWatch).
On camera
Getting the northern flicker on a feeder camera
Pick a camera feeder that takes a suet cage, or mount a separate camera next to a suet feeder on the trunk – woodpeckers cling to the bark while they feed.
Questions
Northern Flicker: questions
What do northern flickers eat?
At feeders, sunflower seeds, berries.
Do northern flickers migrate?
Partial migrant; northern birds are strongly migratory.. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in October.
Where do northern flickers live?
By share of all bird sightings, they are most common in Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Idaho. They are rare or absent in Hawaii.