Quick Answer
Woodpeckers and flickers are very closely related birds, but they are not exactly the same. Flickers belong to the genus Colaptes which is part of the larger woodpecker family Picidae. So while flickers are a type of woodpecker, they are distinguished from other woodpeckers by some key differences in appearance and behavior. The most widespread flicker species, the Northern Flicker, can be identified by its brown barred back, buff underparts, and distinctive black “moustache.”
Woodpecker Characteristics
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds that comprise the family Picidae. There are about 200 species of woodpeckers that can be found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions.
Some key features that distinguish woodpeckers include:
- Strong feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward. This helps them cling securely to tree trunks.
- Stiff tail feathers that help prop them against tree trunks.
- Pointed beaks for chiseling and drilling into wood.
- Long sticky tongues that can extend to capture insects.
- Thick skull bones and muscles surrounding the brain to protect it from impacts while pecking.
In addition to drilling into trees for insects, woodpeckers also use their bills to excavate nesting and roosting cavities. The rhythmical pecking of woodpeckers as they chisel into trees is a familiar sound of forests and woodlands.
Flicker Characteristics
Flickers belong to the genus Colaptes which currently includes 12 species of woodpeckers native to North and South America. Some key features that distinguish flickers from other woodpeckers include:
- Colorful plumage with brown, black, and buff markings.
- A black crescent shape across the chest.
- A distinctive black “moustache” line.
- White rump patch visible in flight.
- Feed frequently on the ground for ants and beetles.
- Make a loud repeated vocalization that sounds like “wicka-wicka-wicka.”
The most widespread and familiar flicker species is the Northern Flicker. However, other flicker species can be found across different parts of the Americas. Gilded Flickers inhabit the desert Southwest, Andean Flickers are found in South America, and Cuban Flickers live in Cuba.
Differences Between Woodpeckers and Flickers
While flickers belong to the woodpecker family Picidae, there are some notable differences that set them apart from other woodpeckers:
Appearance
- Flickers have brown barred backs and wings, while many other woodpeckers are black and white.
- Flickers lack the completely red or yellow heads found on woodpeckers like the Red-headed Woodpecker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
- The black crescent marking across the flicker’s chest distinguishes them from all other woodpeckers.
Behavior
- Flickers spend a lot of time foraging on the ground, unlike tree-clinging woodpeckers.
- Flickers exhibit a bounding flight pattern with alternating stiff wing beats and short glides.
- Male flickers engage in a unique display involving aerial flights and calls to attract females.
Habitat
- Flickers occupy more open habitats like forests, scrublands, and grasslands compared to other woodpeckers.
- They are often found in semi-urban areas and will nest in man-made structures.
Diet
- Flickers have a varied omnivorous diet including ants, beetles, fruits, seeds, and berries.
- Other woodpeckers are more specialized insectivores focusing on tree-dwelling insects.
Similarities Between Woodpeckers and Flickers
Despite some differences, flickers are considered woodpeckers and share many traits with their relatives:
- Strong climbing feet and stiff tail feathers.
- Long barbed tongue to capture insects.
- Chisel-like bill for excavating cavities in wood.
- Zygodactyl feet with two toes facing forward and two back.
- Male and female both assist in incubation and feeding of young.
- Tap on surfaces and drum for communication and territory defense.
Taxonomy
Woodpeckers and flickers belong to the same family (Picidae) but different genera:
- Woodpeckers belong primarily to the genus Dryocopus, Melanerpes, Picoides, and others.
- Flickers belong to the genus Colaptes.
Here is how flickers fit into the broader woodpecker taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae (woodpeckers)
Genus: Colaptes (flickers)
Within the Colaptes genus, there are 12 recognized flicker species including:
- Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
- Gilded Flicker (Colaptes chrysoides)
- Cuban Flicker (Colaptes fernandinae)
- Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris)
- Andean Flicker (Colaptes rupicola)
Interesting Facts About Flickers
Flickers exhibit some interesting traits and behaviors that help distinguish them from other woodpecker species:
- The Northern Flicker can hammer up to 20 times per second when excavating a cavity.
- Flickers migrate during winter across much of North America, traveling in loose flocks.
- A flicker’s tongue can extend up to 5 inches from its bill to snatch ants from the ground.
- Flickers are unusual among woodpeckers in that they frequently feed on the ground.
- The male flicker has bold black ‘moustache’ lines on both sides of his beak.
- Flickers drum their bills against surfaces to communicate, producing a loud ‘wicka-wicka-wicka’ sound.
- The wings and tail of the flicker produce a unique flashing yellow color in flight.
- Flickers can hybridize with other woodpecker species, an unusual trait for birds.
Habits and Habitats of Flickers
Flickers display some unique behaviors and live in diverse habitats compared to other woodpeckers:
Feeding Habits
- Flickers forage primarily on the ground, feeding on ants, beetles and other insects.
- Their long barbed tongue helps them lap up ants by the hundreds as they walk through lawns and meadows.
- Flickers will also visit feeders for seeds and suet. They tend to swallow seeds whole.
- Fruits and berries from trees like poison ivy, dogwood, sumac, and hackberry are also eaten.
Breeding and Nesting
- Male flickers attract mates with a unique ‘wicka’ display flight and calls.
- Pairs often reuse and enlarge the same nest cavity in successive years.
- The male and female take turns incubating the 5-8 eggs for about 11-12 days.
- Both parents feed the young flickers in the nest for 25-28 days until fledging.
Habitat
- Flickers inhabit open forests, forest edges, orchards, riparian woods and semi-urban areas.
- They are adaptable to human disturbance and will nest in man-made structures.
- In winter, they are more closely associated with trees while other seasons find them foraging more on the ground.
Range
- The Northern Flicker is found across much of North America year-round or as a migrant.
- Gilded Flickers occupy the desert southwest and Mexico while Andean Flickers inhabit South America.
- Cuban Flickers are restricted to Cuba. Other flickers occupy smaller pockets of Central and South America.
Conservation Status
Most flicker species have a conservation status of ‘Least Concern’ and stable populations according to the IUCN Red List:
- Northern Flicker: Least Concern
- Gilded Flicker: Least Concern
- Red-shafted Flicker: Least Concern
- Yellow-shafted Flicker: Least Concern
- Andean Flicker: Least Concern
However, habitat loss is a threat for some rare flicker species with restricted ranges:
- Campo Flicker: Near Threatened
- Fernandina’s Flicker: Endangered
Conservation efforts focused on protecting large open tracts of flickers’ preferred forest and grassland habitats will benefit these species. Providing dead trees for nesting and roosting is also important.
conclusion
In summary, flickers and woodpeckers are close woodpecker relatives within the Picidae family. While they share many traits like chisel-like bills, long tongues, and stiff tail feathers, flickers differ in field marks, behavior, habitat preferences, and diet. Unique flickers like the Northern Flicker occupy more open country and spend extensive time on the ground compared to forest-dwelling woodpeckers. But DNA evidence shows they descended from a common ancestor. Flickers could be considered an intermediate evolutionary form between ground foraging and tree climbing woodpeckers. Their varied adaptations allow them to thrive across much of the Americas.