Northern Flicker

[Freedom]

This morning, a Northern Flicker - a variety of woodpecker - decided the suet and peanut butter was just the thing! He spent quite some time at the feeder, and his movements caused the feeder to spin and turn quite a bit (there was no wind at this point in time). What initially caught my eye was the size, the flicker is quite large!

Notice the red on the nape of the neck.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker018Small_zps893e9903.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker018Small_zps893e9903.jpg.html)

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker019Small_zps2284cc3e.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker019Small_zps2284cc3e.jpg.html)

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker020Small_zps11dc30d2.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker020Small_zps11dc30d2.jpg.html)

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker021Small_zps2686f6c0.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker021Small_zps2686f6c0.jpg.html)

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker022Small_zps69e49877.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker022Small_zps69e49877.jpg.html)

I have 5 more photos of this bird to load!

[Freedom]

I was standing inside, I'd guess I am 20 feet away. Sometimes the flash went off, nothing disturbed his feast!
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker023Small_zpsee919a3f.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker023Small_zpsee919a3f.jpg.html)

I say "he" because of the mustache. According to my bird book, only the males have this!
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker024Small_zps192a4721.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker024Small_zps192a4721.jpg.html)

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker025Small_zpse6ecf01f.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker025Small_zpse6ecf01f.jpg.html)

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker027Small_zpsbf956b55.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker027Small_zpsbf956b55.jpg.html)

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker026Small_zps0b02d02b.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Jan%206%20Northern%20Flicker/NorthernFlicker026Small_zps0b02d02b.jpg.html)

That's all!

[Karen]

Oh, fun! Never seen one - are they common in your area?

[Freedom]

According to my bird book, yes they are. I've never seen one to know what it is!

[cassiesmom]

Wow! I'm so glad you got pictures of him to share! Did your kitties and the fluffs watch him too?

[Casper]

One of my favorite birds. :) In my moms old neighborhood they were plentiful, I really miss seeing them... we hardly get any birds where I live now.
Thanks for sharing!

[Alysser]

Love those little guys, haven't seen one in awhile though! Nice pics :)

[Freedom]

Wow! I'm so glad you got pictures of him to share! Did your kitties and the fluffs watch him too?

The fluffs were watching, not the cats. Riley does not permit the cats to share the sofa with her!

Alysser, thanks, that means so much coming from you!

[smokey the elder]

That bird was certainly having a nice feast! Good pictures.

[phesina]

What a beautiful bird! And he certainly is enjoying the feast!

Thanks, Sandie.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[cassiesmom]

What a beautiful bird! And he certainly is enjoying the feast!

Thanks, Sandie.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

Agree one hundred percent! I realized this morning that I haven't seen any birds these past few days, not even sparrows. It must be the very cold weather; I wonder where they went.

[tatsxxx11]

Beautiful photos!!! Great job Freedom, capturing him in all his gluttonous glory!:D And yes, Karen, Flickers are common in our neck of the woods! Woodpeckers of several types visit my suet feeder every day, including Flickers!