northern flicker

Nothern Flickers are a species of large brownish migratory woodpeckers with black specks. Even though it can climb up tree trunks and hammer on wood like other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker prefers to eat insects it finds on the ground, especially ants. If you see or hear one banging on a tree or other object it is probably just making noise to communicate or as a territory defense rather than looking for something to eat.

Here on the west coast you’ll find Flickers with red tail feathers (red-shafted) while on the east coast they’ll have yellow (yellow-shafted).