← Handbook of nature-study for teachers and parents, Volume 1
Chapter 38
Lesson XVII
The Flicker
Leading thought—The flicker is a true woodpecker but has changed its habits and spends much of its time in meadows hunting for ants and other insects; it makes its nest in trees, like its relatives. It can be distinguished from the meadow-lark by the white patch above the tail which shows during flight.
Methods—This is one of the most important of birds of the meadow and the work may be done in September when there are plenty of young flickers, which have not learned to be wary. The observations may be made in the field, a few questions given at a time.
Observations—1. Where do you find the flicker in the summer and early autumn? How can you tell it from the meadow-lark in color and in flight?
2. What is it doing in the meadows? How does it manage to trap ants?
3. What is the size of the flicker as compared to the robin? What is its general color as compared to the meadow-lark?
4. Describe the colors of the flicker as follows: Top and sides of the head, back of the neck, lower back, tail, wings, throat and breast. The color and shape of the beak. Is there a difference in markings between the males and females?
5. Does the patch of white above the tail show, except when the bird is flying? Of what use is this to the bird?
6. What is the flicker’s note? At what time of spring do you hear it first?
7. Where does the flicker build its nest and how? What is the color of the eggs? How many are there?
8. How does it feed its young? How do the young flickers act?
9. How many names do you know for the flicker?
Supplementary reading—“The Bird of Many Names,” Nestlings of Forest and Marsh; A Fellow of Expedients, Long; Our Birds and Their Nestlings, p. 187; Audubon Leaflet No. 5.
The high-hole appears to drum more promiscuously than does the downy. He utters his long, loud spring call, whick-whick-whick, and then begins to rap with his beak upon his perch before the last note has reached your ear. I have seen him drum sitting upon the ridge of the barn. The log-cock, or pileated woodpecker, the largest and wildest of our Northern species, I have never heard drum. His blows should wake the echoes.
When the woodpecker is searching for food, or laying siege to some hidden grub, the sound of his hammering is dead or muffled, and is heard but a few yards. It is only upon dry, seasoned timber, freed of its bark, that he beats his reveille to spring and woos his mate. —John Burroughs, in Birds, Bees and Sharp Eyes.