Northern Flicker

I was looking out the window and saw this larger bird that i had never seen before... just hopping around, rooting the the grass.
So, i got the binoculars out and watched him for a while... a long while. I was looking thru the chain link fence, so it wasn't all that clear.

as he hopped in one direction, i was able to get closer and eventually out the fence ... very pretty striking markings.

When he finally got tired of me following him, he finally flew away to a dead tree.

I googled the description and found it was a male Northern Flicker.

[E - you would have been so proud i figured this one out on my own ^_^ ]

There was just the one .... I'm not sure if they travel alone or with others.

I really need to get myself a bird watching book, as i'm seeing so many newer ones lately.

and obviously didnt have my camera with me.... wish i did though.

Congrats. I'm sure he will be back looking for bugs.

Congratulations tcs! They are so beautiful with all their different markings!

Three of them come to my yard looking for bugs. They even looked up under the bottom of the benches and chairs for bugs during our worst ice storm. They ate suet during the worst of the winter. I think the smaller one might have been one of last years babies. The larger ones seemed to have to encourage it to go to the suet. If you look in the stickey at the beginning of this forum, there is a link to cornell univ. If you go there you can hear the birds and you will recognize their close kinship with the dinosaurs ;-))
There are a lot of great links on the sticky. Have fun!
Nan

Thanks Nan.

Saw a flicker on the back lawn as it was getting dark & had to wait until it flew to see the white rump and recognize it. Come on bird, if you are looking for ants let we direct you to the iris beds and not have you bothering about the lawn.

Here's one of mine

Another view

Excellent pics Dave! I love the features of the Flicker!

WOW -- great shots!! love the one of "take off".