While out for my morning walk I saw this northern flicker busily engaged with his breakfast.
I at first wasn’t sure what he was doing – it looked initially like he was digging a hole – but his attention was completely captured.
He was right next to the sidewalk and eventually flew away because someone came too close.
After he left I could see that he had found an ant colony and was feasting on them and their eggs.
Northern flickers will often eat the bugs that are infesting trees, so they actually help them to stay healthy. They will come to your yard if you put out suet and a water source, and will also proceed to feast on any bugs you have lurking around there.
Northern flickers are protected as their numbers have been in decline, so I was happy to see this little guy.
Happy Saturday.
In the Net! - Pictures and Stories of Life 
I didn’t notice at first that the bird has a bright red stripe on its head. Birds in so many ways are amazing.
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I think only the male has the red slash.
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Yes, that’s right. The females have the distinctive black chest slash, but not the red neck slash.
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In the pictures of him eating, the red stripe doesn’t show very well, but that’s how I know it was a male (and as Anneli has said, also). I always liked having them in my back yard as they definitely kept the bug population down.
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I love these little guys. I once had one clinging to the stucco wall of my house. Not sure what he was looking for. We saw a lot of them in Vancouver this trip, similar to your guy, dining on the lawns in Stanley Park. They are so beautiful when they spread their wings to fly. Happy Saturday Lynette. Allan
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Thanks, Allan. They are such pretty, non-aggressive birds and I love that they eat the bugs.
You may have had some bugs on that part of your house or he (if it was a male) may have been using your stucco as am amplifier for his mating calls. They do that fairly commonly with stucco, I understand. Good to hear that you saw lots of them in Stanley Park. Cheers.
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We have some around here and I’m happy to see them. They do a lot of good.
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They are lovely birds who get on well with others and so pretty, especially when they spread their wings (as Allan noted). They certainly help to keep the trees healthy.
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I enjoy seeing the birds and other critters going about their business! He’s a handsome one.
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I do as well. I could (and have) spent a lot of time just seeing what they’re up to. The northern flickers are beautiful, especially when in flight.
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I will have to be on the look out for them. We have enough ants and bugs to keep a colony of them happy!
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You might be able to attract them with suet and some water. Once they’re in your yard, they will hunt down your bugs! Their favourite is ants – I read once that they eat more ants than any other bird. I hope they pay you a visit. 🙂
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WOW! What a fascinating series of a shy and elusive bird. Well done!
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Thank you very much, Cindy. All the pictures except the last one were taken with my cell. It worked reasonably well but my camera would have done a better job. Cheers.
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It’s a shame to hear that their numbers are declining. I wouldn’t mind having some of these in my yard to go after all the bugs!
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Yes, it is a shame. Mostly it’s because of habitat loss and also because they’re on the ground a lot (they eat more ants than any other bird). You might be able to attract them if you put out some suet and water. One year I had a pair of them – they were chasing down every ant and mosquito in the yard! Cheers.
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