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Photography

George McGovern

(9,390 posts) Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:04 PM Friday

12

Okay, can't stand it any longer. Does Anyone Know What This Bird Is?

It visited the backyard yesterday, plucked away at the grass then took off.

24 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Okay, can't stand it any longer. Does Anyone Know What This Bird Is? (Original Post) George McGovern Friday OP

Looks like a flicker in the top pic Dr. Shepper Friday #1

Thanks Dr. Shepper! George McGovern Friday #7

are those two different birds? Skittles Friday #2

Nope, same bird Skittles. I was surprised at the color of its feathers. Thanks! George McGovern Friday #8

Northern Flicker? ZDU Friday #3

That's the consensus ZDU. Thank You! George McGovern Friday #11

Happy to assist! You are most welcome! ZDU Friday #18

Have seen a family of them this week Mme. Defarge Friday #19

Not sure, but it is beautiful! SheltieLover Friday #4

Ty SL! George McGovern Friday #12

Some type of Woodpecker wendyb-NC Friday #5

Thanks wendy-NC. You guessed Northern Flicker. You're right! George McGovern Friday #13

Yes! Mme. Defarge Friday #20

Nice shots. Pretty sure it's a northern flicker. Walleye Friday #6

Thank You Walleye. Yes, that's the concurrence. George McGovern Friday #14

yep. northern flicker. johnnyfins Friday #9

Thanks johnnyfins. You know your birds! George McGovern Friday #15

Google says it's a Flicker, likely a Northern Flicker. LoisB Friday #10

Thank You Lois! We're all in agreement. Whew. Nice to know now. George McGovern Friday #16

It appears that I was late to the party - I had to look it up because obviously I had no clue. LoisB Friday #17

You and me both Lois! Y'know what "they" say, better late than never! ThankYou! George McGovern Friday #22

Bonus material about flickers LearnedHand Friday #21

Thanks LearnedHand! Guess the flicker found our ground to its liking. George McGovern Friday #23

I was Rebl2 Saturday #24

Dr. Shepper

(3,188 posts)

1. Looks like a flicker in the top pic

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:05 PM

Friday

George McGovern

(9,390 posts)

7. Thanks Dr. Shepper!

Reply to Dr. Shepper (Reply #1)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:21 PM

Friday

Skittles

(167,406 posts)

2. are those two different birds?

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:09 PM

Friday

I thought maybe sparrow hawk but the head color changes.....

George McGovern

(9,390 posts)

8. Nope, same bird Skittles. I was surprised at the color of its feathers. Thanks!

Reply to Skittles (Reply #2)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:22 PM

Friday

Last edited Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:59 PM - Edit history (1)

ZDU

(769 posts)

3. Northern Flicker?

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:09 PM

Friday

https://ngazette.com/flickers-in-our-midst/

George McGovern

(9,390 posts)

11. That's the consensus ZDU. Thank You!

Reply to ZDU (Reply #3)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:54 PM

Friday

ZDU

(769 posts)

18. Happy to assist! You are most welcome!

Reply to George McGovern (Reply #11)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:29 PM

Friday

Mme. Defarge

(8,760 posts)

19. Have seen a family of them this week

Reply to ZDU (Reply #3)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:30 PM

Friday

in my backyard! Gorgeous birds and utterly thrilling.

SheltieLover

(73,642 posts)

4. Not sure, but it is beautiful!

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:14 PM

Friday

George McGovern

(9,390 posts)

12. Ty SL!

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #4)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:54 PM

Friday

wendyb-NC

(4,479 posts)

5. Some type of Woodpecker

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:19 PM

Friday

The back looks like the back of a Red Bellied Woodpecker, but I live in the south east, North Carolina. A Flicker is also a possibility, perhaps a Gilded Flicker, or a Northern Flicker. Beautiful, interesting looking bird.

George McGovern

(9,390 posts)

13. Thanks wendy-NC. You guessed Northern Flicker. You're right!

Reply to wendyb-NC (Reply #5)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:56 PM

Friday

Mme. Defarge

(8,760 posts)

20. Yes!

Reply to wendyb-NC (Reply #5)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:30 PM

Friday

Walleye

(42,471 posts)

6. Nice shots. Pretty sure it's a northern flicker.

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:20 PM

Friday

The yellow shafted feathers indicated from the eastern part of the country, I think. Out West, the feathers have red shafts. I have seen them on the ground working on tree roots and flicking out the ants so they could eat them

George McGovern

(9,390 posts)

14. Thank You Walleye. Yes, that's the concurrence.

Reply to Walleye (Reply #6)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:00 PM

Friday

johnnyfins

(2,893 posts)

9. yep. northern flicker.

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:26 PM

Friday

George McGovern

(9,390 posts)

15. Thanks johnnyfins. You know your birds!

Reply to johnnyfins (Reply #9)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:01 PM

Friday

LoisB

(11,625 posts)

10. Google says it's a Flicker, likely a Northern Flicker.

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:35 PM

Friday

George McGovern

(9,390 posts)

16. Thank You Lois! We're all in agreement. Whew. Nice to know now.

Reply to LoisB (Reply #10)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:02 PM

Friday

LoisB

(11,625 posts)

17. It appears that I was late to the party - I had to look it up because obviously I had no clue.

Reply to George McGovern (Reply #16)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:26 PM

Friday

George McGovern

(9,390 posts)

22. You and me both Lois! Y'know what "they" say, better late than never! ThankYou!

Reply to LoisB (Reply #17)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 11:21 PM

Friday

LearnedHand

(5,011 posts)

21. Bonus material about flickers

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:34 PM

Friday

They are the only members of the woodpecker family who feed on the ground. Nice find! I love flickers.

George McGovern

(9,390 posts)

23. Thanks LearnedHand! Guess the flicker found our ground to its liking.

Reply to LearnedHand (Reply #21)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 11:23 PM

Friday

Rebl2

(16,967 posts)

24. I was

Reply to LearnedHand (Reply #21)

Sat Sep 13, 2025, 11:13 AM

Saturday

just going to say I think they only feed on the ground.😊

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