nature, Photography

Northern Flicker

33 Comments

There are lots of birds around now and they are all very busy. I spotted this northern flicker who had found something buggy to eat between the pavers on a footpath.

I think she has some hatchlings – she doesn’t have the distinctive red flashes which indicate a male flicker – because I could hear little cheepings from above my head.

I tried to spot the nest but no luck; it was definitely nearby though because I saw the male flying back and forth between the tree and another area of eating interest a bit further away.

Those specialised beaks are sharp, very pointed and an especially good tool for digging yummy bugs out of trees and from between pavers, too. It’s great that this flicker nest is so well hidden; I hope this little family does well.

Happy Wednesday.

33 thoughts on “Northern Flicker”

  3. Great shots Lynette. These are such pretty birds, especially in flight. We see them in Vancouver all the time and also back home in Beaumont. Right now, in Calgary, they are doing huge damage to siding on some houses as they hunt for food or a nesting site. The new EIFS stucco is their prime target as they peck through the thin layer of stucco into the Styrofoam. Glad I have old school stucco. Happy Wednesday. Allan

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    1. Thank you very much, Allan. I agree, they’re especially beautiful in flight. Maggie from Monkey’s Tale lives in Calgary and has also noted the damage they’re doing to stucco houses. I didn’t know about this issue with stucco although here I’ve heard about them going after in the bugs (or trying to nest) in the wooden eavestroughs and siding of 1950s and 1960s houses but not the wooden houses older than that. Thanks for the explanation, Allan.

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  6. These are nice photos of flickers, Lynette. We have flickers here too, and I can never get enough photos. They are such easy visitors – gentle guests. I’m glad to hear yours have babies. We can always stand to have more flickers around.

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    1. Thank you very much, Anneli. This one wasn’t much bothered by my presence; glanced at me a couple of times but was really intent on getting at those yummy bugs. Agreed; they’re very gentle and so pretty, especially in flight. Cheers.

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    1. Hi Ally, that’s interesting. I’m definitely one of their fans but I like all birds, even the more difficult ones like gulls. They all have their place. One of my favourites are the crows and their cousins, the ravens. So intelligent. They can conceive and carry out plans of action and also have a rudimentary language. Watching them is quite amazing.

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    1. Hi Maggie, Allan has commented here about a possible reason for that. I hadn’t heard before that there is an issue with them pecking the siding in Calgary. I’m assuming that it’s stucco? Here they will peck the wooden eavestroughing on houses from the 1950s and 1960s but not those of wooden houses older than that.

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          1. I think they have but it doesn’t always work. It sounds like they’ve tried many things and nothing works. But the birds are migratory so are protected, so they’re not allowed to do everything. At least it’s not us.

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          2. Yikes! Those are determined birds! I have heard that shiny objects (like aluminum strips) will deter them as well but don’t have any experience with that method (and sounds like they may have tried that also). That’s a serious issue and their hands are tied as to how they can respond. How frustrating and expensive.

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    1. Thank you very much, Linda. I agree it’s best that it’s well hidden. There are eagles around who are also nesting and they will take small birds if they can. More usually ducks or coots out on the water but any port in a storm if they’re hungry.

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