The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a medium-sized woodpecker found widely distributed across much of North America. Northern Flickers inhabit open forests, woodlands, and forest edges across a broad geographic range spanning both the United States and Canada. Their range covers most of the contiguous United States as well as parts of Alaska and Canada. Northern Flickers are found year-round throughout most of their range, though some populations may migrate short distances. Below we will explore what specific states and regions Northern Flickers are found living in throughout their range in North America.
Northern Flicker Range and Distribution
The Northern Flicker has an extremely wide distribution and is found across a diversity of habitat types. Their breeding range spans from coast to coast in the United States and up into Canada and Alaska. The Northern Flicker’s range reaches as far north as central Alaska across Canada, and as far south as Central America. Though found nearly throughout North America, Flickers are absent from some parts of the southeastern U.S. as well as arctic and alpine tundra regions.
In the western United States, Northern Flickers are found throughout the west coast from Washington to California. Their range extends east throughout the intermountain west into the Rocky Mountains as far south as Arizona and New Mexico. Flickers can be found in western mountain ranges such as the Cascades and Sierra Nevada Mountains.
In the midwest, Northern Flickers occupy the Great Plains region from North Dakota south to Texas, and east throughout the Midwest into Ohio. Their range reaches north up through Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Along the east coast, Northern Flickers occupy suitable habitat throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic region. Their range extends south along the coast through North Carolina. A gap in their range occurs in the southeastern coastal plain from South Carolina through Florida, where they are replaced by the Red-shafted Flicker subspecies.
Northern Flicker Range By State
Let’s take a more detailed look at precisely which states fall within the Northern Flicker’s range:
Alaska – Northern Flickers are found across mainland Alaska except for the northernmost arctic tundra regions. They occupy boreal forest habitats and open woodlands.
Arizona – Northern Flickers are widespread across higher elevation forests and woodlands in Arizona. They are found in northern and eastern mountain ranges.
Arkansas – Northern Flickers occupy the entire state of Arkansas. They inhabit open forests and woodlands statewide.
California – Northern Flickers are common and widespread throughout most of California, absent only from the southeastern desert region. They occupy diverse habitats.
Colorado – Northern Flickers are a common resident across Colorado including the Rocky Mountains, foothills, and eastern plains.
Connecticut – Northern Flickers inhabit open woodlands and forests throughout Connecticut. They are a common statewide resident.
Delaware – Northern Flickers are common statewide in Delaware in open wooded habitats.
Georgia – Northern Flickers are found in the northern half of Georgia. Their range overlaps with Red-shafted Flickers in the state.
Idaho – A common year-round resident throughout Idaho including forests, woodlands, and arid canyons.
Illinois – Northern Flickers are a common resident statewide in Illinois. They occupy open forests and woodlands.
Indiana – Found statewide in Indiana in suitable open wooded habitat. A common resident.
Iowa – Northern Flickers are a common statewide resident in Iowa, inhabiting open forests and woodlands.
Kansas – Occurs statewide in Kansas in open woodland and forest edge habitats.
Kentucky – Northern Flickers are found statewide in Kentucky in open forests and woodlands.
Maine – A common resident of Maine. Northern Flickers inhabit open forests and woodlands statewide.
Maryland – Northern Flickers are common in open habitats throughout Maryland.
Massachusetts – Found statewide as a year-round resident. Occupies diverse open wooded habitats.
Michigan – Northern Flickers reside statewide in Michigan. They frequent open forests, parks, and suburban areas.
Minnesota – Statewide resident in Minnesota. Occupies open forests, woodlands, and edges.
Mississippi – Northern Flickers are found statewide in Mississippi in open forests and woodlands.
Missouri – A common resident statewide in Missouri in open wooded habitats.
Montana – Widespread and common year-round in open forests and woodlands statewide.
Nebraska – Occurs statewide in open woodland and forest edge habitats.
Nevada – Found throughout Nevada except for the southeastern corner. Occupies diverse wooded habitats.
New Hampshire – A common statewide resident in New Hampshire in open forest and woodland habitats.
New Jersey – Northern Flickers are common statewide New Jersey residents in open wooded habitats.
New Mexico – Northern Flickers occupy higher elevation forest and woodlands in northern and central New Mexico.
New York – A common statewide resident. Occupies diverse open wooded habitats.
North Carolina – Northern Flickers occur statewide but are more common in the western mountains and piedmont than in the coastal plain.
North Dakota – A common breeding resident statewide in open woodland and prairie grove habitats.
Ohio – Found throughout Ohio in open woodlands, parks, and suburbs. A common resident.
Oklahoma – Occurs statewide in Oklahoma in open forests, woodlands, and edges.
Oregon – Common year-round resident west of the Cascades, less common east of the mountains. Occupies diverse habitats.
Pennsylvania – Statewide resident in Pennsylvania in open forests, woodlands, and suburbs.
Rhode Island – Northern Flickers are found throughout Rhode Island, especially in open wooded habitats.
South Carolina – Northern Flickers are found in western South Carolina. Their range overlaps with Red-shafted Flickers.
South Dakota – A common breeding resident statewide in open prairie groves, woodlands, and forest edges.
Tennessee – Statewide resident, though more common in the open forests of the Cumberland Plateau than in the lowlands.
Texas – Found throughout Texas except for the western Trans-Pecos region where they hybridize with Red-shafted Flickers.
Utah – Northern Flickers occupy wooded habitats throughout Utah except the southeastern corner.
Vermont – A common breeding resident in Vermont, inhabiting open forests and woodlands statewide.
Virginia – Northern Flickers occur statewide in Virginia but are more common west of the Coastal Plain.
Washington – Common west of the Cascades, less common east of the mountains. Occurs in open forests and woodlands.
West Virginia – Northern Flickers are a common breeding resident throughout West Virginia.
Wisconsin – Found statewide as a year-round resident. Inhabits diverse open wooded habitats.
Wyoming – A common resident statewide in open forests, woodlands, and prairie groves.
This covers the detailed state-by-state distribution of Northern Flickers throughout their range in the United States. As we have seen, Northern Flickers occupy suitable habitat in some form across the majority of the Lower 48 states as well as in Alaska. Their range spans diverse habitat types from pine forests to high elevation aspen groves. Next, we will look at some patterns in their distribution and populations across different regions.
Regional Variation in Northern Flicker Populations
While Northern Flickers as a species have an expansive range across North America, their populations are not evenly distributed throughout their full range. Flicker numbers vary significantly between different regions, habitat types, and geographic barriers that affect their distribution. Here we will look at how Northern Flicker populations differ in major regions across the United States and Canada.
Northern Flickers in Western North America
Northern Flicker populations reach some of their highest densities in the western United States and Canada west of the Rocky Mountains. Habitats like open ponderosa pine forests, oak woodlands, and riparian areas in this region provide ideal habitat for flickers. States like Oregon, Washington, and California have thriving flicker populations, especially west of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges where abundant habitat occurs. Flickers are far less common in the arid habitats of the Great Basin and Mojave Desert, though riparian corridors allow dispersal. Overall, the combination of widespread suitable habitat and the mild climate of western North America allow Northern Flicker populations to thrive.
Northern Flickers in the Midwest and Great Plains
The more open and fragmented woodlands of the Midwest and Great Plains also support abundant Northern Flicker populations. While they tend to occur at lower densities than some western states, their numbers are high over the huge geographic area they occupy in this region. Northern Flickers are a characteristic species inhabiting open oak and pine woodlands, shelterbelts, forest edges, and wooded parks throughout the Midwest. They thrive in habitats created through natural disturbances and timber harvesting. The availability of nesting cavities, rather than competition for food, is likely the primary limit on populations in the Midwest. Overall, healthy Northern Flicker populations occur throughout the eastern Great Plains and Midwest in suitable habitat.
Northern Flickers in Eastern North America
Northern Flicker numbers in the eastern United States are variable depending on habitat type. In the northeast, flickers inhabit diverse forests and parks and remain common where open understory habitat occurs. However, maturation of forests and lack of disturbance has reduced populations in some areas. Flickers reach their highest densities in the Appalachian region where oak forests provide ideal habitat. In the Southeast, flickers are restricted to higher elevation western areas by competition with Red-shafted Flickers that displace them from lowland pine forests. Changes in fire regimes and forest structure have likely impacted flicker numbers in the Southeast. But overall they remain common within the Appalachian corridor.
Northern Flickers in Canada and Alaska
Northern Flickers are widespread across Canada from coast to coast, though they occur at relatively low densities across huge boreal forest areas further north. They inhabit aspen parklands, open coniferous and mixed forests, and riparian areas with standing dead trees for nesting. Flickers have expanded their range northward during recent decades as climate change facilitates northward expansion of woodlands. Though abundant, flickers occur at naturally lower densities in northern Canada reflective of limitations in nest site availability. They also occupy forest openings and riparian areas throughout mainland Alaska.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Northern Flickers occupy an expansive range across much of North America. They occur year-round across the western United States and Canada south of Alaska, throughout the Midwest and Great Plains, across the Northeast, and in the Appalachian region. Populations reach their highest densities in more open and fragmented forests with availability of nesting cavities. Though widespread, the Northern Flicker’s distribution is limited by competition with Red-shafted Flickers in the arid Southwest and Gulf Coast region. They occur in lower densities and more patchy distribution in boreal Canada and Alaska. But overall, the Northern Flicker remains a common and iconic woodpecker across a diversity of open forest habitats throughout much of the United States and Canada.
The Northern Flicker’s adaptability to human-altered habitats like parks, suburbs, and managed forests has likely facilitated ongoing high populations in many areas. Conservation of open forest habitats and maintaing sufficient standing dead trees for nesting will be important for sustaining thriving Northern Flicker populations into the future. Their resilience makes the Northern Flicker one of North America’s most recognizable and widespread woodpecker species across much of the United States and Canada.
References
[1] Audubon Guide to North American Birds. Northern Flicker Overview. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-flicker
[2] Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Northern Flicker Life History. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker
[3] Dunn, J.L. and Alderfer, J.K. 2011. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. 6th Edition.
[4] Kaufman, K. 2000. Birds of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
[5] Rodewald, P.G. 2015. The Birds of North America. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
