WESTERN BIRDS Flicker 



grounds in not too thickly settled communities. Some- 

 times the house, itself, is dug into for nesting purposes, or 

 sleeping quarters, or as it would almost seem, for the 

 mere joy of digging. This habit of boring into trees has 

 caused these birds to have a bad reputation in some 

 communities. I would suggest placing heavy wire 

 screening under the eaves, or elsewhere, to prevent their 

 doing harm, rather than killing these otherwise useful 

 and interesting birds. 



The white rump showing in the undulating flight and 

 the flash of red on wings and tail will identify these 

 birds as far as seen. The common call of the adult 

 Flicker is a sort of blood-curdling, high-pitched one 

 which is variously interpreted as pe-auk, wick-wp, quo- 

 ak, kee-yer, and pee-up. It is decidedly startling as it 

 rings through the air, often being heard for a great dis- 

 tance. The call which gives the bird its name is not so 

 startling and when heard at a distance is rather pleasing. 

 Flicker, flicker, flicker, flicker, the bird calls, or wich~ah, 

 wich-ah, wich-ah as sometimes it seems to sound. Clape 

 or Kla-ap is also one note used, as well as a rapidly 

 repeated mellow chu, chU, chU. 



The courting actions of these birds are elaborate and 

 ceremonious, as well as often amusing and ridiculous. 

 Frank L. Burns, who has made an exhaustive study of 

 the habits of the Flicker, says: 



"The male alights close to the female, often choosing 

 a rather slender and leafless horizontal branch as best 

 suited to an unobstructed view of his graceful form and 

 gay plumage. The female assumes indifference, or the 

 silence, dignity and alertness of a critic, while the male 

 bowing, hopping, prancing, dancing, strutting, flirting his 

 wings, pleads and urges his suit with flickering, wicup- 

 ing and hickuping notes; finally he slides up to her, she 

 coyly sidles away, and perhaps takes wing, followed by 

 the one or more suitors to another tree, where the whole 



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