Northern flicker

Northern flicker perched on a weathered wooden post with a red nape patch and barred back, Manitoba

The northern flicker is a woodpecker that spends much of its time on the ground, probing lawns, fields, and forest edges for ants. The yellow-shafted form seen in Manitoba shows a red crescent on the back of the head, a barred back, and a flash of yellow under the wings and tail in flight.

Flickers nest in cavities in dead trees and old fence posts, and they are often seen perched upright on posts and poles like this one. Listen for a loud, ringing call, and watch for a bold white rump patch as they fly away.

The spotted chest and the flash of colour under the wings and tail make a northern flicker worth watching, especially in flight.

To learn more about this bird and its habitat, visit the northern flicker page at All About Birds.

Field notes in photographs

  • Northern flicker perched on a weathered wooden post with a red nape patch and barred back, Manitoba
  • Northern flicker perched among bare branches showing a red nape patch and spotted breast, Manitoba
  • Northern flicker foraging in dry grass, Manitoba

Northern flicker Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the northern flicker in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the northern flicker nests, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the northern flicker in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Shield, the Taiga Shield, the Hudson Plains, the Boreal Plains, and the Prairies (gold). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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