Start woodpecker damage control as soon as you see signs of damage. Next time you see an interesting bird that isnвЂ™t hummer trying to take advantage of sweet nectar, you might be seeing a flicker at your feeder! Offering seed may keep them away from the feeder and allow your hummers to eat in peace. A northern flicker (woodpecker) drilled multiple holes in the wood siding of this home. The young flickers will leave the nest about 25 days after hatching. About 6-8 eggs are laid, and both male and female will incubate the eggs for about 12 days. Both male and female will take part in the building of the nest, which generally is a 2 week process. Anting can also be done to remove the distasteful chemicals and make the insects more appetizing to eat.ДЇlickers tend to be cavity nesters, but will take up home in an appropriately sized and situated birdhouse. The insects secrete liquids that contain chemicals that act as an insecticide, miticide, fungicide, and bactericide. They often feed from the ground because their primary food is insects.ДЄlthough ants can make up about 45% of their diet, Northern Flickers also participate in an activity known as вЂњanting.вЂќ Anting is when birds rub insects on their feathers, to assist in preening, in order to avoid harmful parasites.

Often found in wooded areas, you will see Northern Flickers among the tree line or moving about on the ground. They are one of the few members of the woodpecker family that migrate. The Northern Flicker, native to North America and parts of Central America, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands, is a medium-sized member of the woodpecker family.

This bird is the flicker and may be visiting a feeder near you! These birds are almost as big as some feeders, and have a long bill and tongue, similar to a hummingbird. This is a female of the western race, also known as Red-shafted Flicker, photographed on Vancouver Island. Eastern and Western populations differ markedly in colouration of underwing and flight feathers yellow in the east and red in the west. There has been some buzz about a new bird frequenting hummingbird feeders. This widespread woodpecker occurs throughout most of North America but is a summer migrant in the north of its range.

Northern flicker feather