📚 Archive Post — Originally published on April 28, 2021. This content is now freely available as part of our public archive.
Northern Flickers are common birds that you can often hear pounding on loud objects like a downspout of a satellite dish. I have had them wake me up at 4 Am thinking my house was being attacked by machine gun fire. I believe they do this to attract a mate, defend their territory, or for maybe for communication. I recall hearing a Flicker pounding on my downspout, a few seconds later, I heard a faint response of a similar rapid pounding sound far in the distance. Perhaps they communicate in an encoded language similar to Morse code?
They eat mainly insects like ants and beetles. They have a long tongue that enables them to get into the bark of trees. This Video displays this behavior.
These photos were taken at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge and Sellwood Riverfront Park.
A Female Northen Flicker 
A Male (red-shafted) Northern Flicker 
Eating Upside Down 
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