Common Flicker 



Harry Engels 



COMMON FLICKER (Colaptes auratus) 



The familiar flicker is a tame, noisy bird with a variety of calls. Flickers 

 are permanent residents of the Douglas-fir/Aspen and Cottonwood-willow 

 streambottom habitat complexes in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton, 

 Because of Its adaptability, the flicker is generally common throughout 

 its range. However, the pugnacious starling, an introduced species, com- 

 petes with the flicker and other tree hole nesting species for nesting sites 

 and frequently drives them from their nests. Flickers spend much of their 

 time on the ground in search of ants, which are a primary food item. They 

 chisel their nest cavities in dead trees, usually aspens. Because of their 

 dependence on dead trees as nesting sites, and food sources, natural 

 disasters such as insect infestations and fires favor woodpeckers. 



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