Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

Year-round in CharlotteUncommon

The take

The woodpecker on the ground — probing your lawn for ants, flashing yellow when it flies.

How to ID it

  • Brownish woodpecker richly patterned with black spots, bars, and crescents, plus a black chest band.
  • Conspicuous white rump patch in flight; eastern birds flash bright yellow under the wings and tail.
  • Spends much of its time foraging on the ground for ants, flying off in an up-and-down path.

Field marks at a glance

Size
medium
Head
tan face with gray crown and red nape crescent (eastern)
Call
loud single kleer; long wick-wick-wick

Where & when

Year-round in Charlotte

Learn more

Sources