Rural Sch(jol Leaflet 



1135 



FLICKER 



Size. — A little larger than a robin. 



General color. — Dark brown above; light brown below, marked with 

 round black dots. Quill feathers of tail and wings black above; golden 

 yellow below. 



Distinctive features. — A scarlet crescent across nape of neck; white 

 spot to be seen on the 

 rump when flying. The 

 flicker is our only 

 brownish woodpecker. 



The flicker is a noisy 

 bird. From the time 

 it arrives during the 

 latter part of March 

 or first part of April, 

 until it leaves again in 

 the fall, we can hear 

 its strident notes at all 

 times of the day. In 

 addition to quite a 

 variety of calls like 

 those of other wood- 

 peckers, the male also 

 indulges in a rolling 

 tattoo in the spring, 

 and seems to delight 

 in a hollow drain-pipe 

 or other resonant sur- 

 face that will cause his 

 drumming to be heard 

 for half a mile and to 

 wake up every one in 

 the neighborhood. 

 Another curious habit 

 of the flicker is that 

 whenever two of them get together they perfonn an elaborate ceremony 

 of bowing, bobbing, and strutting, during which the tail is stiffly spread, 

 and various comical attitudes are assiuned. It is at such times that 

 they utter the call that gives them their name, flicker-flicker-flicker, or 

 wick-awick-awick . 



Although the flicker is a woodpecker, it frequently departs from the 



Flicker, or golden-winged woodpecker 



