We have had a lack, a dearth, a severe shortage of Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) this Fall. Really, we usually have scads of these colourful, interesting woodpeckers around. One finally showed up at my feeders a couple days ago. Turns out it isn't the average Northern Flicker.
There are two subspecies of Northern Flickers designated by the colour of the shafts of their primaries (flight-feathers).
The Yellow-shafted is the eastern type; the one we have where I live. Both males and females have yellow shafts, yellow undersides to the tail feathers and underwing plus a red crescent on the nape of the neck. The males have a black malar (moustache). The Red-shafted is the western version. Red shafts and undersides of tail feathers and underwing, no red on nape. The male has a red malar. Hybrids are common where the regions overlap.
My visitor is a hybrid. It is Yellow-shafted, but there's black AND red in the malar.
I'm a fair distance from regular Red-shafted territory (which is, say, Alberta and west), so this fella is a bit unusual for this area. He's out of range.
This sort of explains his sudden arrival - possibly flying ahead of the recent cold front, or got lost dodging a previous storm. Who knows. Some birds wander. He's here now and eating ravinously at my feeders. I hope he stays.
There are two subspecies of Northern Flickers designated by the colour of the shafts of their primaries (flight-feathers).
The Yellow-shafted is the eastern type; the one we have where I live. Both males and females have yellow shafts, yellow undersides to the tail feathers and underwing plus a red crescent on the nape of the neck. The males have a black malar (moustache). The Red-shafted is the western version. Red shafts and undersides of tail feathers and underwing, no red on nape. The male has a red malar. Hybrids are common where the regions overlap.
My visitor is a hybrid. It is Yellow-shafted, but there's black AND red in the malar.
I'm a fair distance from regular Red-shafted territory (which is, say, Alberta and west), so this fella is a bit unusual for this area. He's out of range.
This sort of explains his sudden arrival - possibly flying ahead of the recent cold front, or got lost dodging a previous storm. Who knows. Some birds wander. He's here now and eating ravinously at my feeders. I hope he stays.
Enjoyed your photos and thoughts on why this guy showed up. I saw a similar specimen yesterday in BC. It was feeding in tall grass that went to seed behind my cabin.
ReplyDelete