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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Hairy Woodpecker near Muenster, Saskatchewan

From the trees, knock-knock-knock. A large woodpecker with a beak about as long as its head. A Hairy Woodpecker this time, instead of a Downy.

It was a dull day, and the woodpecker kept in the shelter of the branches, foiling my attempts to focus my camera on it. Then that bird flew off, but when I walked on, I saw another Hairy Woodpecker that was slightly more willing to pose. (But only slightly.)

And yes, on the Saskatchewan prairies, we indeed have trees and forest bird species.

Hairy Woodpecker at work   © SB

What is this bird? A Hairy Woodpecker (female, from the lack of red nape spot, and Hairy — not Downy — from its size, its bill and the spur of black feathers at the side of its breast).

Location: Near Muenster, Saskatchewan. 

Photo dates:  March 1, 2013

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Downy Woodpecker: Flash of red and hollow knocking

Walking past a stand of trees this morning, I heard the characteristic woodpecker knock-knock-knock. I paused, walked back, and saw a Downy Woodpecker enthusiastically working his way up and down and around the low branches.

Male Downy Woodpecker with red flash  © Shelley Banks

Did he see me? I'd like to think so, because he certainly managed to find a continuous supply of twigs and stumps to hide behind — each time, just when I thought I had succeeded in framing the classic, full-length-with-checkered-feathers woodpecker shot with my camera.

And when not in hiding, this Downy moved at feather-blurring speed, rapidly bobbing his head as he rapped his beak into tasty spots on the bark. (There's even an after-image red halo behind his head, above.)

What is this bird? A male Downy Woodpecker (males are the ones with the red heads) 

Location: Near Muenster, Saskatchewan. 

Photo dates:  February 16, 2013

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