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[[image: noflickerrs.jpg ]]

'''Common Name:''' Northern Flicker

'''Scientific Name:''' Colaptes auratrus

'''Size:''' 11-12 inches (28-31cm)

'''Habitat:''' Throughout North America.  The Red-shafted lives in the Western regions and the Yellow-shafted in the Eastern and more Northern regions.

'''Status:''' Least Concern.  '''Global Population:''' 16,000,000 mature individuals (all subspecies included). Widespread and common, but populations declining due to habitat loss.

'''Diet:''' Insects, ants, beetle larvae, and seed.

'''Breeding:''' Three to twelve white eggs are laid in tree cavities.

'''Cool Facts:''' While most woodpeckers work trees for their meals, the Northern Flicker often works the ground, spearing ants with it’s barbed tongue. Ants are it’s favorite food.

The Northern Flicker is also one of the only migratory woodpeckers in North America. 

The Red-shafted and Yellow-shafted do interbreed.  From Alaska to Texas, hybridized Northern Flickers are common. The Red-shafted will also interbreed with the Gilded Flicker, but this is less common.


'''Found in [http://hivewire3d.com/songbird-remix-woodpeckers.html Songbird ReMix Woodpeckers]'''