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Photography

George McGovern

(11,170 posts) Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:04 PM Sep 2025

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.

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24 replies

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Okay, can't stand it any longer. Does Anyone Know What This Bird Is? (Original Post) George McGovern Sep 2025 OP

Looks like a flicker in the top pic Dr. Shepper Sep 2025 #1

Thanks Dr. Shepper! George McGovern Sep 2025 #7

are those two different birds? Skittles Sep 2025 #2

Nope, same bird Skittles. I was surprised at the color of its feathers. Thanks! George McGovern Sep 2025 #8

Northern Flicker? ZDU Sep 2025 #3

That's the consensus ZDU. Thank You! George McGovern Sep 2025 #11

Happy to assist! You are most welcome! ZDU Sep 2025 #18

Have seen a family of them this week Mme. Defarge Sep 2025 #19

Not sure, but it is beautiful! SheltieLover Sep 2025 #4

Ty SL! George McGovern Sep 2025 #12

Some type of Woodpecker wendyb-NC Sep 2025 #5

Thanks wendy-NC. You guessed Northern Flicker. You're right! George McGovern Sep 2025 #13

Yes! Mme. Defarge Sep 2025 #20

Nice shots. Pretty sure it's a northern flicker. Walleye Sep 2025 #6

Thank You Walleye. Yes, that's the concurrence. George McGovern Sep 2025 #14

yep. northern flicker. johnnyfins Sep 2025 #9

Thanks johnnyfins. You know your birds! George McGovern Sep 2025 #15

Google says it's a Flicker, likely a Northern Flicker. LoisB Sep 2025 #10

Thank You Lois! We're all in agreement. Whew. Nice to know now. George McGovern Sep 2025 #16

It appears that I was late to the party - I had to look it up because obviously I had no clue. LoisB Sep 2025 #17

You and me both Lois! Y'know what "they" say, better late than never! ThankYou! George McGovern Sep 2025 #22

Bonus material about flickers LearnedHand Sep 2025 #21

Thanks LearnedHand! Guess the flicker found our ground to its liking. George McGovern Sep 2025 #23

I was Rebl2 Sep 2025 #24

Dr. Shepper

(3,230 posts)

1. Looks like a flicker in the top pic

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:05 PM

Sep 2025

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George McGovern

(11,170 posts)

7. Thanks Dr. Shepper!

Reply to Dr. Shepper (Reply #1)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:21 PM

Sep 2025

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Skittles

(170,197 posts)

2. are those two different birds?

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:09 PM

Sep 2025

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

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George McGovern

(11,170 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, 08:22 PM

Sep 2025

Last edited Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:59 PM - Edit history (1)

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ZDU

(1,160 posts)

3. Northern Flicker?

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:09 PM

Sep 2025

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

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George McGovern

(11,170 posts)

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

Reply to ZDU (Reply #3)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:54 PM

Sep 2025

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ZDU

(1,160 posts)

18. Happy to assist! You are most welcome!

Reply to George McGovern (Reply #11)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:29 PM

Sep 2025

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Mme. Defarge

(8,935 posts)

19. Have seen a family of them this week

Reply to ZDU (Reply #3)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:30 PM

Sep 2025

in my backyard! Gorgeous birds and utterly thrilling.

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SheltieLover

(78,205 posts)

4. Not sure, but it is beautiful!

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:14 PM

Sep 2025

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George McGovern

(11,170 posts)

12. Ty SL!

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #4)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:54 PM

Sep 2025

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wendyb-NC

(4,628 posts)

5. Some type of Woodpecker

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:19 PM

Sep 2025

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.

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George McGovern

(11,170 posts)

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

Reply to wendyb-NC (Reply #5)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:56 PM

Sep 2025

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Mme. Defarge

(8,935 posts)

20. Yes!

Reply to wendyb-NC (Reply #5)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:30 PM

Sep 2025

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Walleye

(44,039 posts)

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

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:20 PM

Sep 2025

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

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George McGovern

(11,170 posts)

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

Reply to Walleye (Reply #6)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:00 PM

Sep 2025

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johnnyfins

(3,569 posts)

9. yep. northern flicker.

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:26 PM

Sep 2025

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George McGovern

(11,170 posts)

15. Thanks johnnyfins. You know your birds!

Reply to johnnyfins (Reply #9)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:01 PM

Sep 2025

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LoisB

(12,555 posts)

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

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:35 PM

Sep 2025

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George McGovern

(11,170 posts)

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

Reply to LoisB (Reply #10)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:02 PM

Sep 2025

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LoisB

(12,555 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, 09:26 PM

Sep 2025

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George McGovern

(11,170 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, 10:21 PM

Sep 2025

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LearnedHand

(5,290 posts)

21. Bonus material about flickers

Reply to George McGovern (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:34 PM

Sep 2025

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

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George McGovern

(11,170 posts)

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

Reply to LearnedHand (Reply #21)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:23 PM

Sep 2025

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Rebl2

(17,525 posts)

24. I was

Reply to LearnedHand (Reply #21)

Sat Sep 13, 2025, 10:13 AM

Sep 2025

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

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