The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a medium-sized woodpecker found across much of North America. The Northern Flicker is known for its unique vocalizations, described as a loud “kleer” or “wicka” call. But why exactly do Northern Flickers make these calls? In this article, we’ll explore the different reasons why Northern Flickers vocalize.
Territory Defense
One of the main reasons Northern Flickers call is to defend their territory. Northern Flickers are non-migratory woodpeckers that maintain territories year-round. The “kleer” call of the Northern Flicker is often used to proclaim ownership of a territory and ward off potential intruders. Both male and female Northern Flickers will call to defend their nesting and feeding territories. Calling loudly advertises that the area is occupied. Studies have found that Northern Flickers are more likely to call when defending territories during the breeding season. This suggests territorial defense is one of the key functions of vocalizations.
Attracting Mates
In addition to territory defense, Northern Flicker calls also play an important role in mate attraction. The loud vocalizations of Northern Flickers allow males and females to locate potential partners over considerable distances. The “wicka” call in particular is thought to function as a mating call, drawing the attention of nearby Northern Flickers in search of a mate. Northern Flicker calls reach their highest frequency during the peak breeding period of spring and early summer. This further indicates that calling is critical for communicating with potential mates. Studies have shown that unmated males call at higher rates than mated males, demonstrating the importance of vocalizations for courtship displays.
Staying in Contact with Mates
Once mated, Northern Flicker pairs continue to use vocalizations to stay in contact with each other. Their “kleer” and “wicka” calls allow mates to communicate over distances within their territory. This keeps the pair connected as they forage for food or excavate nesting cavities. Contact calls help the male and female Northern Flicker coordinate their activities and reinforce their pair bond. The frequent antiphonal calling (back and forth vocal responses) between mated Northern Flickers enables the birds to maintain an acoustic connection even when they are apart visually.
Alarm Calls
In addition to attracting mates and defending territories, the calls of Northern Flickers may also function as alarm calls in some situations. Studies suggest the “kleer” call may serve to alert other Northern Flickers to potential danger or predators. This call could warn others to be cautious or take evasive action. Northern Flickers will call loudly and frequently when disturbed by predators like hawks and owls. They also make alarm calls when mobbing predators in order to drive them away from the area. Using vocalizations to signal alarm is an important survival strategy for this woodpecker species.
Identification of Species
The unique vocalizations of Northern Flickers also allow birds to identify others of the same species. The particular sound characteristics of the “kleer” and “wicka” calls enables Northern Flickers to distinguish each other from other woodpecker species with different call patterns. This identification via call is useful for both territorial interactions and mate attraction. Northern Flickers are able to discern specific individuals based on slight variations in their calls as well. Being able to differentiate species and individual birds using vocalizations facilitates social communication and behaviors.
Signaling Location
Finally, the loud calls of Northern Flickers may also simply function as a way for the birds to signal their location. The far-reaching “kleer” of the Northern Flicker is an effective means of revealing the caller’s presence to others. The frequent and repetitive calling broadcasts the position of the vocalizing Northern Flicker. This location signaling would be useful for attracting mates, defending territories, maintaining contact with partners, and gathering at food sources. Calling is a prime way Northern Flickers can pinpoint each other’s whereabouts within their home ranges.
Conclusion
In summary, Northern Flickers call for a variety of important reasons related to their survival and reproduction. Defending territories, attracting mates, maintaining pair contact, signaling alarm, species identification, and locating other individuals are the primary functions of Northern Flicker vocalizations. The unique “kleer” and “wicka” calls of these woodpeckers allow effective communication over significant distances. Understanding why Northern Flickers call provides insight into their social behavior and ecology. Paying attention to the context, frequency, and meaning behind Northern Flicker vocalizations reveals a lot about the fascinating behaviors of these birds.
Reason | Description |
---|---|
Territory Defense | Calling loudly advertises occupancy of an area and wards off intruders |
Attracting Mates | Loud vocalizations allow birds to locate potential partners over long distances |
Staying in Contact with Mates | Frequent antiphonal calls allow mated pairs to communicate and coordinate activities |
Alarm Calls | Loud repetitive calls may alert others to danger or predators |
Identification of Species | Unique sound characteristics enable identification of other Northern Flickers |
Signaling Location | Loud far-reaching calls reveal the caller’s presence and location |
What Does the Northern Flicker Look Like?
The Northern Flicker is a medium-sized woodpecker measuring approximately 12-14 inches long with a 16-18 inch wingspan. It has a slender body and a long tail. The plumage is brown on the back and wings, with black spots and bars. The underparts are beige or light brown with black spots. The Northern Flicker has a distinctive black crescent-shaped mark on the upper breast. The male Northern Flicker can be identified by a black or red mustache stripe on each side of the face. The female lacks this facial marking. The forehead and crown are grayish-tan. The rump is gray and the tail is black with white outer feathers. The pointed bill is slightly curved and the eyes are brown.
Geographic Variants
There are geographic differences in the plumage of the Northern Flicker. The eastern yellow-shafted flicker has bright yellow underwings and tail that can be seen in flight. The red-shafted flicker of the west has salmon-colored underwings and tail. Hybrids of these two color types occur in regions where their ranges merge.
What is the Habitat of the Northern Flicker?
The Northern Flicker can be found in a diverse range of open woodland and semi-open habitat types across North America. Some key habitat features include:
- Open forests
- Woodland edges
- Riparian forests along rivers and streams
- Parks and suburban neighborhoods with trees
- Partially wooded wetlands
- Savannahs
- Orchards
- Forest openings caused by disturbance like fires or logging
Northern Flickers prefer sites with scattered large trees, such as oaks, pines, cottonwoods and aspens, that provide suitable nesting cavities. They avoid dense, closed-canopy forests with little understory vegetation. The presence of standing dead trees (snags) is also important for nesting and feeding sites. Downed woody debris provides habitat for Northern Flicker prey like ants and beetles.
Range
The Northern Flicker is found across most of North America. Its breeding range extends from Alaska and Canada southward to the Gulf coast and central Mexico. Northern Flickers are year-round residents through much of their range. The species winters as far north as Canada in some areas.
Elevation
Northern Flickers occupy a wide range of elevations depending on latitude. They are found at sea level up to around 9,000 feet in mountainous regions. In western North America, they commonly inhabit higher elevation forests during the breeding season.
What Does the Northern Flicker Eat?
The Northern Flicker is an omnivorous woodpecker that feeds on a variety of food sources. Ants and other insects make up much of their diet along with fruits, seeds, and berries.
Ants
Ants are the primary food of the Northern Flicker. They use their long, barbed tongue to lap up ants on the ground or in trees. Northern Flickers hunt for ants on the soil surface, on ant mounds, under bark, and inside decaying logs. Carpenter ants are especially important prey.
Beetles
Beetle larvae are also an important insect food source. Northern Flickers will hammer away at dead wood in search of wood-boring beetle grubs. They dig in soil for scarab beetle larvae.
Fruit
Northern Flickers supplement their insect diet with wild fruits and berries. Common fruit food sources include wild cherries, sumac berries, dogwood berries, poison ivy, Virginia creeper, grapes, hackberries, and Russian olives.
Seeds
In the fall and winter, Northern Flickers eat a variety of tree seeds, including acorns, pine seeds, sunflower seeds, and thistle. They often forage on the ground under bird feeders for dropped seed.
Sap
Northern Flickers are known to drink sap from sapsucker wells drilled into trees. They occasionally visit sugar maple sap runs as well.
How do Northern Flickers Find Food?
Northern Flickers use a variety of techniques to locate their prey and food items:
- Foraging on the ground for ants, beetles, fallen seeds, fruits
- Probing in soil and leaf litter with their long bills
- Hammering and flaking away bark to expose hiding insects
- Lapping ants from surfaces using their sticky tongues
- Excavating in rotting stumps and logs for beetle larvae
- Perching in trees and flycatching insects
- Visiting sap wells to drink sweet tree sap
- Foraging in fruit trees and berry-producing shrubs
- Stripping seeds from pine cones
- Drinking nectar from flowers
Their ability to both dig in the ground for prey and excavate wood makes the Northern Flicker unique among North American woodpeckers. This adaptability allows them to exploit a wide diversity of available food.
How do Northern Flickers Nest?
Northern Flickers nest in tree cavities they excavate themselves using their chisel-like bills. The nesting process involves the following steps:
- The pair chooses a nest site, typically 15-25 feet up in a living or dead tree.
- The male and female take turns hammering out a cavity using their bills. This excavation takes 1-2 weeks.
- The cavity is normally 6-18 inches deep with a 2-3 inch entrance hole.
- Wood chips are kicked out of the hole or fall to the ground below.
- The female lays 5-8 glossy white eggs on a bed of wood chips.
- The female incubates the eggs for 11-14 days while the male brings food.
- Both adults feed the chicks regurgitated insects.
- The young fledge and leave the nest at 25-30 days old.
Northern Flickers prefer to nest in areas with dead trees and snags which provide softer excavating material. They occasionally nest in man-made structures like utility poles or buildings. Cavities are often reused in subsequent years and may be taken over by other cavity nesters after the flickers are done.
Territory and Nest Site Defense
Northern Flickers aggressively defend their chosen nesting territories and cavity sites. Both males and females will confront, chase, and peck at intruders entering their area. They give loud distress calls and engage in bill thrusting and ritualized displays to deter potential rivals. Any sites suitable for cavity excavation are valuable resources worth protecting.
What are Some Fun Facts About Northern Flickers?
- Northern Flickers can drill into wood with their bills up to 20 powerful blows per second.
- The Northern Flicker’s tongue can extend up to 2-1/2 inches past the end of its bill.
- Flickers communicate with a variety of vocalizations and drumming sounds.
- They sun themselves by orienting their wings away from the sun and angling their dark backs towards its warmth.
- The red or yellow underwings and tail regions evolved to startle would-be predators.
- They take dust baths in loose soil to clean and rid themselves of parasites.
- Males will sometimes help feed incubating females by passing food into the nest hole.
- The eggs are the whitest of any North American woodpecker.
- Northern Flickers migrate during the day and may travel in loose flocks.
What is the Conservation Status of the Northern Flicker?
The Northern Flicker has a large population estimated at around 9 million birds. Population trends appear stable so their conservation status is of Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss is a potential threat. Since Northern Flickers nest in cavities, maintaining adequate snags and dead trees is an important conservation measure. Provision of nest boxes can also help support flickers where natural nest sites are limited. This adaptable woodpecker remains widespread and common throughout its range. Careful forest management and protection of woodland habitat will ensure Northern Flickers continue to thrive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Northern Flickers are fascinating woodpeckers that play an important ecological role in our forests and woodlands. Their loud territorial calls, conspicuous plumage, and hammering on dead trees make them a familiar backyard bird for many North Americans. Flickers vocalize for a variety of reasons vital to their survival like defending territories, attracting mates, sounding alarms, and locating others. Cavity excavation and consumption of ants make them key species for pest control, seed dispersal, and creating nest sites. Ensuring healthy populations of Northern Flickers provides benefits to both forest health and our enjoyment of nature. These striking birds bring their own brand of vitality to both spring and winter days. Protecting Northern Flicker habitats and appreciating their behaviors allows us to sustainably coexist with these unique woodpeckers.