Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus
Nest Type: Cavity
Nest Location: Snag; 6-15'
Clutch Size: 3-12; avg. 5-8
Food: Insects
Foraging Guild: Ground and bark gleaner, hawks
The Northern Flicker is among the most widely distributed nesting species across
North America. It has been found nesting in all of the 48 contiguous United States. Its
breeding distribution spans virtually all of the forested zones to the limit of trees across
North America (Bent 1939, DeGraaf et al. 1991). Its wintering range broadly overlaps its
breeding range; however, it is not found during the winter in the northern portions (e.g.,
across Alaska, Canada, and most of the northern United States such as Minnesota,
Michigan, and Maine). Its winter distribution also expands from the Florida Keys to Cuba, a
large portion of the Caribbean, across the southern boundary of the United States including
Texas, Baja, and south to Nicaragua (Bent 1939).
The species migrates to Minnesota from early March to early May with a peak in late
April, and fall migration begins in late August and lasts to early November. During fall
migration, flocks in the hundreds are not unusual (Short 1982, Janssen 1987).
The Northern Flicker is typified by many local geographic races and color morphs.
Up until the late 1970s, many of these color morphs were thought to be distinct species.
The general breeding habitat of the Northern Flicker includes open woodlands, shrub
deserts, riparian forest areas, and city parks (Roberts 1932, DeGraaf et al. 1991). In
Minnesota, the Northern Flicker is found throughout the state wherever there are scattered
trees. The species is commonly found in recently cut areas where it forages in patches of
exposed ground. It will also nest in these areas or in adjacent woodlands where suitable
trees are available (Back 1979, Niemi and Pfannmuller 1979, Niemi and Hanowski 1984).
The species lays 5-8 eggs, and incubation lasts 11-12 days. The most typical nest
site is a relatively large tree in which a cavity is excavated by both sexes anywhere from 1
to 20 m in height (Scott et al. 1977). A variety of tree species are used including aspen,
cottonwood, willows, pine, and oak. Evans and Connor (1979) state that the species'
territory size is approximately 40 acres and the optimum diameter of nest trees is 30 to 44
cm and 6 to 12 m high. They further suggest that snag densities of 50 per 100 acres are
needed to maintain populations of this species in an area.
The species primarily forages on the ground. DeGraaf et al. (1991) state that its diet
consists of 60% animal matter, of which 75% of this is comprised of ants. The species also
consumes a variety of other ground and tree insects including termites and beetles. With
the presence of large swarms of insects, the species will also occasionally fly-catch. In
winter, the species also uses a variety of fruits and berries.
The Northern Flicker is a relatively widespread species, and it is unlikely that
increased forest harvesting and management will have negative effects on the species as
long as a suitable number of nest trees are available. Populations are likely to be
enhanced in clearcut areas where dead trees and other live trees are left standing. The
species is relatively tolerant of other species with the exception of the Red-headed
Woodpecker and the Starling. The latter often uses the same nest holes excavated by
Flickers; however, in northern forested areas the Starling is a currently a rare bird. The
species is also a food source to a variety of predators including hawks, owls, eagles,
harriers, and falcons (except the American Kestrel) (DeGraaf et al. 1991).
