From Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory

On September 23, we caught a Northern Flicker that showed two red primaries on both wings as well as 6 red tail feathers (rectrices)!

There are two well-defined subspecies, the Red-shafted Flicker and the Yellow-shafted Flicker, with red or yellow shafts and feathers on wings and tail. They do mingle (and interbreed (hybridize)) in a broad swath of territory in the middle of the continent, with various combinations of yellow and red feathers.

Is it what we captured, so far from that mixing zone? With birds (almost) everything is possible: have wings, will fly! However, there is also another possible explanation: food!

A diet rich in certain berries can produce red colouration in some species of birds, including Flickers. The red colouration comes from pigments in the berries called carotenoids.

As much as the idea of a mixed flicker crossing the continent to end up in our nets is entertaining and fun, I would suspect that it is more likely a diet-related effect that brought this striking bird its mix of colours.

This bird center is in Ontario.

Here is a map and an article talking all about the differences between the 2 flickers.

Beautiful.

Which color do you prefere?

I don’t see color

Smartypants 😜

Nature is amazing!

I thought I'd get tired of sharing this stuff long ago, but every day I come across more rad nature stuff than I could possibly share without becoming obnoxious! 😅

They're giving the birds cosmetic dlc now.

Oh no! Not Mother Nature getting in on this racket too!

UNHAND ME AT ONCE

...

I WILL BE SPEAKING TO YOUR MANAGER

I found a flicker feather in my yard recently and didn't recognize it right away because of the pink ("red") coloring.

I had never even known to look for a color! I'll have to try and get a look next bird season. We've had a few in for recovery, and I've admired their topsides plenty, but never knew to check underneath 😁

I love the face 😄

You can see the pink under their wings when they fly overhead. Not so much when their wings aren't spread open.