Northern Flicker, "Red-shafted"
The Northern Flicker, "Red-shafted" western variety, is a woodpecker with red malar stripes and a black chest crescent. The "Red-shafted" Flickers have pink to red underparts to the tail and wings, the eastern variety have yellow underparts. Unlike other woodpeckers, they tend to feed on the ground looking for ants and beetles. The two images above, and one below were captured in early June 2017 on Mt. Lemmon at 7900 feet, just off of the main highway on N. Loma Linda Extension. The dark area around the neck is shadow. The image below shows a hint of the reddish underparts to the wing.
The image below was captured in November of 2016 at Agua Caliente Park, at 2700 feet. The image quality is not as good, but it shows the spotted belly and the flash of fed at the tail in the morning light.
For excellent photos of these birds, males and female, and a great discussion of the differences between the red-shafted and yellow-shafter birds, see Tom Grey's Website.
For excellent photos of these birds, males and female, and a great discussion of the differences between the red-shafted and yellow-shafter birds, see Tom Grey's Website.
