Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Closely resembling the Gilded Flicker, we can find Northern Flickers over most of North America and central Mexico. However, they rarely occupy the same territory with its ‘Gilded’ relative. Eastern Northern Flickers have yellow shafts on their feathers, while western birds have red or orange shafts.
Northern Flickers are woodpeckers that frequently forage on the ground. Ants make up almost half of their diet. There are reports of a slight decline in populations. Observers believe the cause of the decline is due to the invasions of European Starlings, who out-compete most other native birds for cavity nesting.
Science recognised ten subspecies of Northern Flickers. Some subspecies designations are regionally separated, and some have differing outward features, such as red or yellow feather shafts. One subspecies, the Guadalupe Red-Shafted Flicker (C. a. rufipileus) is now extinct.
The Northern Flickers I’ve met have, so far, been in Western North America from as far north as Canada’s provinces of British Colombia and Alberta, and as far south as Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico. This species ranges in summer into most of Canada and Alaska, but are year-round residents in most of the USA, parts of Mexico and on islands of the Caribbean such as Cuba. The desert southwest and most of Texas host these birds only in the winter.
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Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: This bird came to investigate my presence at the Vista Grande site, part of the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California USA 2010-06-29. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:29 18:09 |
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Location:
Vista Grande |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD1846.NorthernFlicker |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: A bird at the Waterhole on Santa Rosa Mountain, Southern Riverside County, California USA 2004-08-26. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:26 14:44 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.0, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD_9572NorthernFlicker |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Goodan Ranch, Sycamore Canyon. Poway, California. San Diego County 2008-06-21. |
Date Taken: 2008:06:21 9:35 |
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Location:
Gooden Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD7105NorthernFlicker |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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Description: Red-shafted subspecies found at the Vista Grande site, part of the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California USA 2010-06-30. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:30 7:45 |
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Location:
Vista Grande |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD1930.NorthernFlicker |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Goodan Ranch, Sycamore Canyon. Poway, California. San Diego County 2008-09-08. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:08 15:28 |
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Location:
Gooden Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: jcd0080NorthernFlicker |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Adult female (yellow-shafted) at Saskatoon Lake, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:03 10:34 |
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Location:
Lake Saskatoon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/7.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD3353NorthernFlicker |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Adult female in Idyllwild, California in Riverside County. |
Date Taken: 2012:06:10 8:24 |
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Location:
Idyllwild |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X3119-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: William Heise County Park near Julian California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:30 15:46 |
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Location:
William Heise Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D727692-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Foraging for ants at Red Hill County Park near the Salton Sea. West of Niland in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:31 12:53 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723023-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: San Luis Rey Picnic Ground, west of Lake Henshaw in northern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:29 8:55 |
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Location:
San Luis Rey River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X8482-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: San Luis Rey Picnic Ground, west of Lake Henshaw in northern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:29 8:54 |
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Location:
San Luis Rey River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X8474-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: San Luis Rey Picnic Ground, west of Lake Henshaw in northern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:29 8:50 |
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Location:
San Luis Rey River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X8447-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:23 14:06 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X8076-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Along the Owens River Gorge, below Lake Crowley, at the edge of the Long Valley Caldera. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:06 9:33 |
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Location:
Crowley Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X6740-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Lee Metcalf NWR in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:27 11:55 |
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Location:
Lee Metcalf NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X5307-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Lee Metcalf NWR in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:27 11:53 |
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Location:
Lee Metcalf NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5272-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Lee Metcalf NWR in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:27 11:49 |
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Location:
Lee Metcalf NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X5242-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:13 11:59 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X4220-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:13 10:47 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X4106-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Adult female foraging in Idyllwild, California in Riverside County. |
Date Taken: 2012:06:10 8:28 |
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Location:
Idyllwild Town Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X3156-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Adult female in Idyllwild, California in Riverside County. |
Date Taken: 2012:06:10 8:28 |
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Location:
Idyllwild |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X3152-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Flickers are not always as cooperative as the bird I met foraging in the parking area of The Arboretum at Flagstaff in Northern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:16 14:41 |
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Location:
Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X1416-Arboretum-at-Flagstaff |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Flickers are not always as cooperative as the bird I met foraging in the parking area of The Arboretum at Flagstaff in Northern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:16 14:41 |
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Location:
Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X1435-Arboretum-at-Flagstaff |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Flickers are not always as cooperative as the bird I met foraging in the parking area of The Arboretum at Flagstaff in Northern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:16 14:41 |
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Location:
Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X1445-Arboretum-at-Flagstaff |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Seen in the wooded Nature Trail at Cibola NWR, South of Blyth, CA. In Arizona near the Colorado River. |
Date Taken: 2006:02:17 14:15 |
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Location:
Goose Loop |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/9.0, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD1646NorthernFlicker |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Note how the bird is using the branch to shade his eyes and get a better look at me. Flickers are not always as cooperative as the bird I met in the parking area of The Arboretum at Flagstaff in Northern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:16 14:39 |
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Location:
Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X1384-Arboretum-at-Flagstaff |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Flickers are not always as cooperative as the bird I met foraging in the parking area of The Arboretum at Flagstaff in Northern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:16 14:41 |
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Location:
Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X1465-Arboretum-at-Flagstaff |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Flickers are not always as cooperative as the bird I met foraging in the parking area of The Arboretum at Flagstaff in Northern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:16 14:41 |
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Location:
Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X1457-Arboretum-at-Flagstaff |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Flickers are not always as cooperative as the bird I met foraging in the parking area of The Arboretum at Flagstaff in Northern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:16 14:41 |
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Location:
Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X1408-Arboretum-at-Flagstaff |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Flickers are not always as cooperative as the bird I met foraging in the parking area of The Arboretum at Flagstaff in Northern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:16 14:41 |
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Location:
Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X1399-Arboretum-at-Flagstaff |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:13 10:47 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X4101-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: A bird at Touvelle State Recreation Area, Rogue Valley Game Management Area, near Eagle Point, Oregon USA 2016-04-29. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:29 15:07 |
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Location:
TouVelle State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729782-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:06:11 9:08 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D722275-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Charlie Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:09 12:11 |
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Location:
Charlie Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 490 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD3912NorthernFlicker |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Adult female (yellow-shafted) at Saskatoon Lake, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:03 10:31 |
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Location:
Lake Saskatoon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.7, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD3351NorthernFlicker |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Along Morris Creek in Garner Valley. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:23 10:48 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X1582-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: At a nest hole by Agua Dulce Creek, near the Sunrise Highway, South of Julian, California. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:21 11:42 |
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Location:
Agua Dulce Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X7927-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Mount Laguna Town Center, along the Sunrise Highway, South Of Julian, California. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:09 8:09 |
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Location:
Mount Laguna |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1238-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Fish Lake in Sevier County Utah at just under 9000 feet elevation. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:09 11:22 |
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Location:
Fish Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X0388-NorthernFlicker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: I was photographing a convoy of crows passing overhead when I spotted this bird at Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:29 15:24 |
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Location:
Mesilla Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X2358-MesillaValley |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: I was photographing a convoy of crows passing overhead when I spotted this bird at Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, near Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:29 15:24 |
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Location:
Mesilla Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X2359-MesillaValley |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 9:47 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X8113-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Even this flicker came to the water for a drink. The morning after I arrived, the birds found a temporary watering hole at Pine Springs Camp. The event at Guadalupe National Park was a memorable one for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:28 9:24 |
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Location:
Pine Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X4296-GuadalupeMountain-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus) |
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Description: Even this flicker came to the water for a drink. The morning after I arrived, the birds found a temporary watering hole at Pine Springs Camp. The event at Guadalupe National Park was a memorable one for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:28 9:24 |
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Location:
Pine Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: NorthernFlicker_D5X4327-GuadalupeMountain-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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