Northern Flicker
“Additionally, it was around this time last year that I had noted a consistent stream of Northern Flickers passing through our yard, practically every day from early December through the first week of January.”
Through the year
Columns that mention it, by the month they were published.
Year by year
Columns that mention it each year.
In his words
Ten of the 25 passages, oldest first.
Finally, April 15 delivered the first of the season Chipping Sparrows and Northern Flickers (Yellow-shafted).
As we slip into September the loud, rolling rattle of northern flickers (yellow shafted) is heard throughout the mixed woodlands of Cape Elizabeth.
First of the season Northern Flicker (yellow-shafted) woodpeckers arrived on Sept. 14.
Later in the morning a Norther Flicker made its presence known and a male Belted Kingfisher was spotted and heard along the fringes of the upper pond area within Robinson Woods II.
Minutes later two of the bluebirds were chased off the suet by a mouse-sized Downy Woodpecker, which in turn was shortly run off by a Northern Flicker passing through on its trek south.
On November 20 I came across two southbound stragglers - a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a Norther Flicker, both in the same crab apple tree!
As for my own general observations, this was the first time in five years that I have seen a consistent stream of Northern Flickers passing through our yard patch, practically every day from early December through the first week of January.
Lastly, on February 28 a Northern Flicker, Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpecker patiently waited turns at the suet cage.
This same day seven Northern Flickers and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker also had brief stop overs on our property.
Also, on July 11 within Robinson Woods I and II the following birds were observed or heard: Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Pine and Black-throated Green Warblers were all singing.
Show all 25 passages
And to a sligltly lesser extent, Northern Flickers, Eastern Bluebirds and Carolina Wrens.
On the 24th, three Northern Flickers were spotted along Shore Road and on this same day the first of the season Dark-eyed Junco appeared below our feeders.
December 9 brought a small influx of slate-colored Black-eyed Junco’s and a passing, Red-shafted Northern Flicker to our backyard.
Additionally, it was around this time last year that I had noted a consistent stream of Northern Flickers passing through our yard, practically every day from early December through the first week of January.
Other noteworthy mentionings from both my back yard and in the field: as of January 24 two Northern Flickers continue to visit our feeders daily.
Migratory woodpeckers such as the Northern Flicker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker numbers peak in April as do Brown Creepers, Eastern Phoebes, Winter Wrens, Brown Thrashers, White-throated Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, and fleeting pass through migrants like Fox Sparrows and “Ipswich” Savanah Sparrows.
Additionally, on July 4 a Red-breasted Nuthatch and Northern Flicker were dining together on suet in our yard while a Red-eyed Vireo sang high above in a White Oak Tree.
Interspersed between the rattling cries of Northern Flickers and the soft chek calls of Yellow-rumped Warblers, the exquisite vocalizations of Ruby-crowned Kinglets ring out with wiry ‘tsip’ call notes that melt into a flute-like, helter skelter melody of soft liquid warblings.
In the first week of December, I was delighted to see three Red-breasted Nuthatches, a Northern Flicker and an Eastern Bluebird on my tail prop suet station.
I also appreciate the daily visits to our backyard by North Flickers and a male Pileated Woodpecker along with bluebirds and house finches that spread cheery chatter.
Also, on February 11 I caught sight of two male Northern Flickers in my backyard engaged in a ritualized dance display which included bill “fencing,” loud “wicka wicka” calls and flicking and flashing of wings and tails which exposed their exquisite yellow flight feathers.
Several times when the wind died down, I would hear the rolling call of Northern Flickers.
…on several occasions during the third week of September in Robinson Woods III the guttural quork quork of Raven’s carried high above the old Pine’s canopy while the rolling rattle of a Northern Flicker echoed through the woods below.
Interspersed between the rattling cries of Northern Flickers and the soft chek calls of Yellow-rumped Warblers, the exquisite vocalizations of Ruby-crowned Kinglets ring out with wiry tsip call notes that occasionally melt into a flute-like, helter-skelter melody of soft liquid warblings.
On this same day three first of season Norther Flickers passed through our yard, stopping briefly to gorge on suet.