Northern Flicker: Large Backyard Woodpecker in Regina, SK

A Northern Flicker landed on one of our bird feeders in Regina, Saskatchewan, this morning. Too big to balance on the tiny ledge, it then flew to the vines atop our backyard trellis.

This large woodpecker looks like the Yellow Shafted variety of Northern Flickers from its markings, including its bright red cap and the flash of yellow along its wings and on their undersides. This bird is also male, from the black moustache, or malar, beside its beak and beneath its eye.

Northern Flicker in my backyard.  © SB

And yes, it's large: Northern Flickers are more than 12 inches long, with wingspans of 20 inches, says The Sibley Guide to Birds. They are also beautiful and very distinctive in flight!


What is this? A Northern Flicker

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Photo date: October 13, 2013

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