{"id":11386,"date":"2018-07-16T06:30:23","date_gmt":"2018-07-16T10:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=11386"},"modified":"2018-07-13T09:26:11","modified_gmt":"2018-07-13T13:26:11","slug":"take-5-northern-flickers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-northern-flickers\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Northern Flickers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spotting a Northern Flicker<\/a>\u00a0can be truly spectacular. Vocal and conspicuous, flickers may be the most obvious woodpecker in the state of Massachusetts<\/a>. They don’t visit bird feeders as frequently as their ubiquitous cousins, Downy Woodpeckers, but you may spot one in your backyard or at your birdbath, especially if your yard abuts a wooded area with a mix of trees and open ground. Unlike other woodpeckers, they often feed on the ground, even mixing together with flocks of ground-feeding songbirds, such as robins. Wherever you see one, this handsome bird certainly has unique plumage.<\/p>\n

Their tan-brown bodies are patterned with black scalloping or spots, appearing almost polka dotted from a distance. In the East, the undersides of their wing and tail feathers are bright yellow (their Western counterparts have red flight feathers but you won’t see them around here). If you startle one from the ground, you may see a flash of white on its rump. They have a black bib across their breasts, a grey cap with a red nape, and the males sport black “mustache” markings beside their beaks.<\/p>\n

These five photos of Northern Flickers were all submitted to our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest. The 2018 contest is open now, so submit your spectacular wildlife and nature photography before the deadline of September 30.<\/p>\n

\"Female

Female Northern Flicker \u00a9 Cheryl Rose<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Male

Male Northern Flicker \u00a9 Lee Millet<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Male

Male Northern Flickers \u00a9 Ken & Judy Proulx<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Male

Male Northern Flicker \u00a9 Paul Flanders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Female

Female Northern Flicker \u00a9 Gates Dupont<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spotting a Northern Flicker\u00a0can be truly spectacular. Vocal and conspicuous, flickers may be the most obvious woodpecker in the state of Massachusetts. They don’t visit bird feeders as frequently as their ubiquitous cousins, Downy Woodpeckers, but you may spot one in your backyard or at your birdbath, especially if your yard abuts a wooded area […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":11393,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[28,265,83,84,212],"class_list":["post-11386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5","tag-birds","tag-northern-flicker","tag-photo-contest","tag-photography","tag-woodpecker"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/07\/3513Gates_Dupont13195_fi.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-2XE","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8150,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-woodpecker-wake-up-call\/","url_meta":{"origin":11386,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Woodpecker Wake-up Call","author":"Ryan D.","date":"August 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"With summer winding down and fall approaching, you may start to hear the sound of a friendly neighbor or two, knocking on your door (or drainpipe, or siding, or trees). Woodpeckers! Each\u00a0fall, woodpeckers excavate roosting holes in preparation for the coming winter, utilizing a behavior called \"drilling.\"\u00a0When woodpeckers\u00a0drill, they actually\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pileated Woodpecker \u00a9 Daniel Tracey, Photo Contest 2014","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/08\/3084Daniel_Tracey11295.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16722,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/spotlight-on-pileated-woodpeckers\/","url_meta":{"origin":11386,"position":1},"title":"Spotlight on Pileated Woodpeckers","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"March 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Did you know there are seven different types of woodpeckers that breed in Massachusetts? Among them are the common Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker. More elusive, despite it's size, is the Pileated Woodpecker. Keep reading to learn more and check out our latest shirt design featuring the this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/6931Tom_Raymo36640-750x500-d24ee1ae-451a-45c4-9a49-e9335aec5bc0-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/6931Tom_Raymo36640-750x500-d24ee1ae-451a-45c4-9a49-e9335aec5bc0-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/6931Tom_Raymo36640-750x500-d24ee1ae-451a-45c4-9a49-e9335aec5bc0-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/6931Tom_Raymo36640-750x500-d24ee1ae-451a-45c4-9a49-e9335aec5bc0-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4705,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/knock-knock-whos-there-a-rare-woodpecker-thats-who\/","url_meta":{"origin":11386,"position":2},"title":"Knock Knock. Who’s There? A Rare Woodpecker, That’s Who","author":"Hillary T.","date":"January 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"There's a rare woodpecker that has been hanging around Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain creating quite a buzz (or, shall we say, knock). The black-backed woodpecker, is a medium-sized (9.5\u201d) woodpecker with an all black back, dark-barred sides on a whitish breast, and a bright yellow crown patch (males\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Black-backed Woodpecker copyright Shawn Carey","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/J3O1751.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/J3O1751.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/J3O1751.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/J3O1751.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5338,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/who-made-that-hole\/","url_meta":{"origin":11386,"position":3},"title":"Who Made That Hole?","author":"Rosemary","date":"May 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"As you stop to admire the new leaves on a tree this spring, you may notice holes carved in trunks and branches. Who made these cavities, and why? Smaller pits may be the work of insects, but most of the larger holes\u00a0were created by woodpeckers, either for feeding or nesting.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/05\/pileatednest.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/05\/pileatednest.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/05\/pileatednest.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13584,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-downy-woodpeckers\/","url_meta":{"origin":11386,"position":4},"title":"Take 5: Downy Woodpeckers","author":"Ryan D.","date":"February 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Of the seven woodpeckers found in Massachusetts, the Downy Woodpecker has the distinction of being both the smallest and most common\u2014they can be found almost anywhere there are trees. With insects making up the bulk of their diet, downies will pick and peck at tree bark in search of tasty\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Downy Woodpecker \u00a9 Bruce Gilman","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/02\/1604Bruce_Gilman14267.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/02\/1604Bruce_Gilman14267.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/02\/1604Bruce_Gilman14267.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/02\/1604Bruce_Gilman14267.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10687,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-pileated-woodpeckers\/","url_meta":{"origin":11386,"position":5},"title":"Take 5: Pileated Woodpeckers","author":"Ryan D.","date":"March 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"It's always a treat to spot the iconic pileated woodpecker (unless, of course, you catch one drilling into the side of your house). With their striking black and white plumage and flaming red crests, they are almost prehistoric-looking, like a crow-sided modern pterodactyl. Woodpeckers have several unique adaptations. Their feet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pileated Woodpecker \u00a9 Kimberlee Bertolino","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/864Kimberlee_Bertolino11865_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/864Kimberlee_Bertolino11865_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/864Kimberlee_Bertolino11865_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11386"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11404,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11386\/revisions\/11404"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}