Northern Flicker

Start with these clues

Look for a spotted underside and a white rump in flight.

Relative size

Medium

Look around

Lawn, Trees

Region and season

Widespread; northern populations often move south in winter.

Compare carefully

Red-bellied Woodpecker shows a strongly barred back.

A photograph shows one individual and one view. Check several features, the date and a regional guide before settling on an identification.

Read the Audubon species account for fuller range, behavior and identification context.