Where to place Northern Flicker house?

The Northern Flicker is a medium-sized woodpecker found throughout most of North America. This striking bird can be identified by its brownish barred plumage, black bib, and bright yellow underwings. Northern Flickers create cavity nests in trees by drilling holes into the trunks with their pointed beaks. When choosing where to build their nesting cavities, Northern Flickers have some specific requirements. Understanding these habitat preferences can help homeowners attract Northern Flickers to their properties.

What kind of trees do Northern Flickers prefer for nesting?

Northern Flickers most commonly excavate nesting cavities in dead trees. They prefer snags (standing dead trees) that are beginning to soften and decay. This makes it easier for the birds to drill into the wood. Flickers will use both hardwood and softwood tree species, including pine, sycamore, elm, poplar, oak, birch, and maple. Of these options, they seem to favor aspen, cottonwood, and willow. The birds tend to choose larger diameter trees, typically around 15 inches across or greater. The entrance holes are usually 10-70 feet above the ground.

What other habitat features are important?

In addition to suitable nesting trees, Northern Flickers require other specific habitat elements. They need open areas such as fields, meadows, pastures, forest clearings, and edges where they can forage on the ground for ants and other insect prey. Abundant ground cover where insects thrive is important. The birds also need perches like fence posts and overhead wires where they can watch for prey and display to other flickers. Access to water for drinking and bathing is also beneficial. Northern Flickers are sometimes found in parks, suburbs, and rural human-dominated landscapes as long as adequate foraging habitat, nest sites, and perches exist.

How can I make my property attractive to nesting Northern Flickers?

Here are some tips for enticing Northern Flickers to take up residence on your land:

• Leave dead standing trees whenever it is safe to do so.
• Girdle unhealthy trees to create future snags.
• Put up nest boxes designed specifically for flickers.
• Create brush piles to provide cover for ant colonies.
• Add native wildflowers and flowering shrubs to support insect populations.
• Reduce or eliminate pesticide use so prey remains abundant.
• Install a birdbath or small wildlife pond.
• Retain some open areas and avoid dense, overgrown vegetation.
• Leave perches like fence posts in place.

Where on my property should I locate nest boxes or snags?

When providing artificial nesting sites or retaining snags, consider placing them along woodland edges, in open meadows, or bordering fields. Face the entrance holes southeast to east to avoid hot western sun exposure. Flickers prefer cavities lower down than other woodpeckers, so 10-15 feet high is ideal. Make sure to situate the boxes or snags away from high traffic areas but still within sight of potential perches. Place multiple options within the territory since flickers may switch nest sites from year to year. Space boxes/snags 100-200 feet apart depending on the size of your property.

What type of nest box is best?

Northern Flicker nest boxes should be made out of rough-cut wood at least 3/4 inches thick. The interior dimensions should be approximately 12 x 12 x 16 inches high with a 3-3.5 inch diameter entrance hole located about 1 foot from the top. The box should be well-ventilated and drained, but protected from excessive rain. Leave the interior wood rough – do not paint or stain it. Face the entrance hole south or east. Mount the box on a pole or tree at least 10 feet above the ground. For extra protection from predators, add a predator guard below the box. Clean out old nesting material each fall.

When should I put up nest boxes?

Late winter is the optimal time to install Northern Flicker nest boxes. February and early March are good targets in most regions. This gives the flickers time to find the cavities and claim them before other species start nesting. It’s best to have the boxes up well before the flickers arrive back from migration and start establishing breeding territories, usually in March or April. Leaving the boxes up year-round is fine as long as they are cleaned out annually.

How can I increase foraging habitat in my yard?

Northern Flickers forage primarily on the ground, feasting on ants and beetles. Here are some suggestions for boosting the insect prey base in your yard:

• Avoid or limit pesticide and insecticide use.
• Leave dead wood, leaf litter, mulch, and brush piles to provide cover for insects.
• Plant native wildflowers, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees that attract and support insects.
• Reduce the amount of lawn and leave leaf litter under trees.
• Keep areas of bare soil where ants can build mounds.
• Use irrigation sparingly since ants need dry conditions.
• Provide extra calcium like crushed oyster shell for ant exoskeletons.

Following these habitat guidelines will help create welcoming conditions for Northern Flickers on your property. Pay attention to their unique needs and you’ll be rewarded with a chance to observe these remarkable birds up close. Let their tapping be a reminder that you’re sharing the space with wildlife.

Northern Flicker Nesting Facts

Northern Flicker Food Preferences

The Northern Flicker diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates:

• Ants – Preferred food, especially red wood ants
• Beetles
• Caterpillars
• Spiders
• Crickets
• Grasshoppers
• Moths
• Snails
• Millipedes
• Centipedes
• Earthworms
• Berries
• Seeds

Flickers use their long sticky tongues to lap up ants. They also hammer open logs and anthills to access ant colonies. Ground-nesting yellowjacket wasps are sometimes preyed upon as well. Flickers occasionally eat fruit and seeds, especially in winter.

Tips for Attracting Nesting Northern Flickers:

1. Put up specifically designed nest boxes on poles or dead trees.
2. Retain existing snags and dead limbs whenever it is safe.
3. Create brush piles to provide cover for insects like ants.
4. Plant native trees, shrubs, and flowers to support the insect population.
5. Provide drinking and bathing water sources like a birdbath.
6. Reduce pesticide use so prey remains plentiful.
7. Leave patches of bare ground for ant mounds.
8. Maintain areas of shorter grass or mulch where the birds can forage.
9. Leave dead leaves and wood litter to harbor insects.
10. Install perches such as fence posts or overhead wires.

Following these guidelines will help make your property an attractive nesting habitat for Northern Flickers. Be sure to observe proper nest box monitoring and maintenance practices as well. With a little effort, you’ll have the chance to observe these remarkable birds raising their young ones up close.

Conclusion

Northern Flickers are delightful woodpeckers to host in your yard. Their unique appearance, behaviors, and cavity nesting habits make them fun to observe. By understanding their habitat requirements and making a few changes to your landscaping, you can potentially attract them to nest on your property. Dead trees, nest boxes, perches, open foraging areas, insect prey, and available water are key components flickers look for. Follow the tips provided to make your yard welcoming for Northern Flickers. With luck, you’ll have the opportunity to watch flickers drumming, feeding, excavating nests, and raising young in your own backyard. If you take steps to accommodate them, these beautiful birds can bring life, activity, and their cheerful calls to your slice of the world.