An Interesting Visitor

When I opened the shades the other day, I startled a bird from the feeder. I thought it was a Red-bellied Woodpecker until I watched it land on one of my wren houses. That’s when I realized it was a Northern Flicker. Flickers visit my yard from time to time, but usually in late April or early May:

Northern Flickers are very large woodpeckers (11-12 inches) that display all sorts of interesting markings:

They used to be divided into Yellow-shafted (East) and Red-shafted (West) based on the color under their wings and tail feathers, but now they are all classified under one name—Northern Flicker.

Northern Flickers don’t visit birdfeeders very often, so I was especially excited that this one showed up on a day when I was doing a count for Project Feederwatch. Flickers can usually be found on the ground hunting for insects, especially ants. In the winter they also eat nuts and berries.

I’m a sucker for that polka-dotted belly.