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Photography

George McGovern

(12,747 posts) Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:04 PM Sep 2025

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

Highlight:

Okay, can't stand it any longer. Does Anyone Know What This Bird Is? (Original Post) George McGovern Sep 2025 OP

Looks like a flicker in the top pic Dr. Shepper Sep 2025 #1

Thanks Dr. Shepper! George McGovern Sep 2025 #7

are those two different birds? Skittles Sep 2025 #2

Nope, same bird Skittles. I was surprised at the color of its feathers. Thanks! George McGovern Sep 2025 #8

Northern Flicker? ZDU Sep 2025 #3

That's the consensus ZDU. Thank You! George McGovern Sep 2025 #11

Happy to assist! You are most welcome! ZDU Sep 2025 #18

Have seen a family of them this week Mme. Defarge Sep 2025 #19

Not sure, but it is beautiful! SheltieLover Sep 2025 #4

Ty SL! George McGovern Sep 2025 #12

Some type of Woodpecker wendyb-NC Sep 2025 #5

Thanks wendy-NC. You guessed Northern Flicker. You're right! George McGovern Sep 2025 #13

Yes! Mme. Defarge Sep 2025 #20

Nice shots. Pretty sure it's a northern flicker. Walleye Sep 2025 #6

Thank You Walleye. Yes, that's the concurrence. George McGovern Sep 2025 #14

yep. northern flicker. johnnyfins Sep 2025 #9

Thanks johnnyfins. You know your birds! George McGovern Sep 2025 #15

Google says it's a Flicker, likely a Northern Flicker. LoisB Sep 2025 #10

Thank You Lois! We're all in agreement. Whew. Nice to know now. George McGovern Sep 2025 #16

It appears that I was late to the party - I had to look it up because obviously I had no clue. LoisB Sep 2025 #17

You and me both Lois! Y'know what "they" say, better late than never! ThankYou! George McGovern Sep 2025 #22

Bonus material about flickers LearnedHand Sep 2025 #21

Thanks LearnedHand! Guess the flicker found our ground to its liking. George McGovern Sep 2025 #23

I was Rebl2 Sep 2025 #24

Dr. Shepper

(3,238 posts)

1. Looks like a flicker in the top pic

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:05 PM

Sep 2025

George McGovern

(12,747 posts)

7. Thanks Dr. Shepper!

Reply to Dr. Shepper (Reply #1)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:21 PM

Sep 2025

Skittles

(172,728 posts)

2. are those two different birds?

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:09 PM

Sep 2025

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

George McGovern

(12,747 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 2025

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

ZDU

(1,386 posts)

3. Northern Flicker?

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:09 PM

Sep 2025

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

George McGovern

(12,747 posts)

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

Reply to ZDU (Reply #3)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:54 PM

Sep 2025

ZDU

(1,386 posts)

18. Happy to assist! You are most welcome!

Reply to George McGovern (Reply #11)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:29 PM

Sep 2025

Mme. Defarge

(9,048 posts)

19. Have seen a family of them this week

Reply to ZDU (Reply #3)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:30 PM

Sep 2025

in my backyard! Gorgeous birds and utterly thrilling.

SheltieLover

(81,595 posts)

4. Not sure, but it is beautiful!

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:14 PM

Sep 2025

George McGovern

(12,747 posts)

12. Ty SL!

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #4)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:54 PM

Sep 2025

wendyb-NC

(4,725 posts)

5. Some type of Woodpecker

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:19 PM

Sep 2025

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

(12,747 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 2025

Mme. Defarge

(9,048 posts)

20. Yes!

Reply to wendyb-NC (Reply #5)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:30 PM

Sep 2025

Walleye

(45,348 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 2025

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

(12,747 posts)

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

Reply to Walleye (Reply #6)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:00 PM

Sep 2025

johnnyfins

(3,961 posts)

9. yep. northern flicker.

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:26 PM

Sep 2025

George McGovern

(12,747 posts)

15. Thanks johnnyfins. You know your birds!

Reply to johnnyfins (Reply #9)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:01 PM

Sep 2025

LoisB

(13,393 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 2025

George McGovern

(12,747 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 2025

LoisB

(13,393 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 2025

George McGovern

(12,747 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 2025

LearnedHand

(5,575 posts)

21. Bonus material about flickers

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:34 PM

Sep 2025

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

George McGovern

(12,747 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 2025

Rebl2

(17,911 posts)

24. I was

Reply to LearnedHand (Reply #21)

Sat Sep 13, 2025, 11:13 AM

Sep 2025

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

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