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Photography

George McGovern

(9,783 posts) Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:04 PM Sep 12

12

Okay, can't stand it any longer. Does Anyone Know What This Bird Is?

It visited the backyard yesterday, plucked away at the grass then took off.

24 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

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Okay, can't stand it any longer. Does Anyone Know What This Bird Is? (Original Post) George McGovern Sep 12 OP

Looks like a flicker in the top pic Dr. Shepper Sep 12 #1

Thanks Dr. Shepper! George McGovern Sep 12 #7

are those two different birds? Skittles Sep 12 #2

Nope, same bird Skittles. I was surprised at the color of its feathers. Thanks! George McGovern Sep 12 #8

Northern Flicker? ZDU Sep 12 #3

That's the consensus ZDU. Thank You! George McGovern Sep 12 #11

Happy to assist! You are most welcome! ZDU Sep 12 #18

Have seen a family of them this week Mme. Defarge Sep 12 #19

Not sure, but it is beautiful! SheltieLover Sep 12 #4

Ty SL! George McGovern Sep 12 #12

Some type of Woodpecker wendyb-NC Sep 12 #5

Thanks wendy-NC. You guessed Northern Flicker. You're right! George McGovern Sep 12 #13

Yes! Mme. Defarge Sep 12 #20

Nice shots. Pretty sure it's a northern flicker. Walleye Sep 12 #6

Thank You Walleye. Yes, that's the concurrence. George McGovern Sep 12 #14

yep. northern flicker. johnnyfins Sep 12 #9

Thanks johnnyfins. You know your birds! George McGovern Sep 12 #15

Google says it's a Flicker, likely a Northern Flicker. LoisB Sep 12 #10

Thank You Lois! We're all in agreement. Whew. Nice to know now. George McGovern Sep 12 #16

It appears that I was late to the party - I had to look it up because obviously I had no clue. LoisB Sep 12 #17

You and me both Lois! Y'know what "they" say, better late than never! ThankYou! George McGovern Sep 12 #22

Bonus material about flickers LearnedHand Sep 12 #21

Thanks LearnedHand! Guess the flicker found our ground to its liking. George McGovern Sep 12 #23

I was Rebl2 Sep 13 #24

Dr. Shepper

(3,190 posts)

1. Looks like a flicker in the top pic

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:05 PM

Sep 12

George McGovern

(9,783 posts)

7. Thanks Dr. Shepper!

Reply to Dr. Shepper (Reply #1)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:21 PM

Sep 12

Skittles

(168,038 posts)

2. are those two different birds?

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:09 PM

Sep 12

I thought maybe sparrow hawk but the head color changes.....

George McGovern

(9,783 posts)

8. Nope, same bird Skittles. I was surprised at the color of its feathers. Thanks!

Reply to Skittles (Reply #2)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:22 PM

Sep 12

Last edited Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:59 PM - Edit history (1)

ZDU

(799 posts)

3. Northern Flicker?

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:09 PM

Sep 12

https://ngazette.com/flickers-in-our-midst/

George McGovern

(9,783 posts)

11. That's the consensus ZDU. Thank You!

Reply to ZDU (Reply #3)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:54 PM

Sep 12

ZDU

(799 posts)

18. Happy to assist! You are most welcome!

Reply to George McGovern (Reply #11)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:29 PM

Sep 12

Mme. Defarge

(8,802 posts)

19. Have seen a family of them this week

Reply to ZDU (Reply #3)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:30 PM

Sep 12

in my backyard! Gorgeous birds and utterly thrilling.

SheltieLover

(74,396 posts)

4. Not sure, but it is beautiful!

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:14 PM

Sep 12

George McGovern

(9,783 posts)

12. Ty SL!

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #4)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:54 PM

Sep 12

wendyb-NC

(4,492 posts)

5. Some type of Woodpecker

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:19 PM

Sep 12

The back looks like the back of a Red Bellied Woodpecker, but I live in the south east, North Carolina. A Flicker is also a possibility, perhaps a Gilded Flicker, or a Northern Flicker. Beautiful, interesting looking bird.

George McGovern

(9,783 posts)

13. Thanks wendy-NC. You guessed Northern Flicker. You're right!

Reply to wendyb-NC (Reply #5)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:56 PM

Sep 12

Mme. Defarge

(8,802 posts)

20. Yes!

Reply to wendyb-NC (Reply #5)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:30 PM

Sep 12

Walleye

(42,768 posts)

6. Nice shots. Pretty sure it's a northern flicker.

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:20 PM

Sep 12

The yellow shafted feathers indicated from the eastern part of the country, I think. Out West, the feathers have red shafts. I have seen them on the ground working on tree roots and flicking out the ants so they could eat them

George McGovern

(9,783 posts)

14. Thank You Walleye. Yes, that's the concurrence.

Reply to Walleye (Reply #6)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:00 PM

Sep 12

johnnyfins

(3,061 posts)

9. yep. northern flicker.

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:26 PM

Sep 12

George McGovern

(9,783 posts)

15. Thanks johnnyfins. You know your birds!

Reply to johnnyfins (Reply #9)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:01 PM

Sep 12

LoisB

(11,819 posts)

10. Google says it's a Flicker, likely a Northern Flicker.

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:35 PM

Sep 12

George McGovern

(9,783 posts)

16. Thank You Lois! We're all in agreement. Whew. Nice to know now.

Reply to LoisB (Reply #10)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:02 PM

Sep 12

LoisB

(11,819 posts)

17. It appears that I was late to the party - I had to look it up because obviously I had no clue.

Reply to George McGovern (Reply #16)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:26 PM

Sep 12

George McGovern

(9,783 posts)

22. You and me both Lois! Y'know what "they" say, better late than never! ThankYou!

Reply to LoisB (Reply #17)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 11:21 PM

Sep 12

LearnedHand

(5,059 posts)

21. Bonus material about flickers

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:34 PM

Sep 12

They are the only members of the woodpecker family who feed on the ground. Nice find! I love flickers.

George McGovern

(9,783 posts)

23. Thanks LearnedHand! Guess the flicker found our ground to its liking.

Reply to LearnedHand (Reply #21)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 11:23 PM

Sep 12

Rebl2

(17,085 posts)

24. I was

Reply to LearnedHand (Reply #21)

Sat Sep 13, 2025, 11:13 AM

Sep 13

just going to say I think they only feed on the ground.😊

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