Northern Flicker in its nest, Wade Lake, Madison County, MontanaMale Northern Flicker in its nesting cavity

I was photographing some Pine Siskins along a road in Madison County, Montana when this male Red-shafted Northern Flicker stuck his head out of his nesting cavity in an aspen and surprised me.

I haven’t had much luck photographing this species primarily because I don’t bait or call birds into view so I was tickled to get a series of this bird as he poked his head out of the nest and a few more when he returned to the nest a while later.

This Quaking Aspen was also being used by Tree Swallows in another cavity below this one.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Northern Flicker photos plus facts and information about this species.