Northern flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Scientific Classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Piciformes
Family:	Picidae
Species:	Colaptes auratus
Common:	Northern flicker

The Northern flicker is a medium-sized member of the woodpecker, native to most of North and Central America. It is the only woodpecker that mostly feeds on the ground, primarily on insects although they will also eat fruits, berries, seeds and nuts.

Identification

Adults are brown with black bars on the back and wings with a necklace-like black patch on the upper breast, while the lower breast and belly are beige with black spots. The tail is dark on top, transitioning to a white rump which is conspicuous in flight.

Adult Male

Adult Female

Females have a plain gray and brown face, lacking the black or red moustachial stripe at the base of the beak.