Yesterday the sun was shining and I went for a walk at my local pond. Among the birds that I photographed I enjoyed this pretty female Northern Flicker.
Urban Northern Flicker female – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f8, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When I first saw the female flicker she was down on the ground, in snow, and nearly hidden from my view. While I observed her through my lens I could see that she was digging in the soil under a concrete curb. I think she was trying to find ants or other insects in the exposed soil there. I took photos of her behavior but most of the time parts of her were obscured by the snow or the curb.
When the flicker was done digging she walked along the curb for a bit. As she moved forward, I moved my tripod closer to where she was. I noticed a tree about seven to eight feet from the curb and I silently wished she would fly over to it.
The female Northern Flicker granted my wish and landed on the tree trunk.
Urban female Northern Flicker – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f8, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I had soft morning light, the pond and some vegetation behind her along with a snow bank behind them for a background. I don’t think that the female flicker could have struck prettier poses on the trunk of the tree.
Here in Utah the Red-Shafted subspecies of Northern Flicker is the dominant subspecies. On occasion Yellow-Shafted and intergrades are sighted. This female is from the Red-Shafted subspecies.
I was both thrilled and delighted to photograph the female flicker posed so prettily close to home.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Northern Flicker photos plus facts and information about this species.
What an interesting and beautiful bird. The contrasting textures of the tree and the Flicker are really striking. Thanks Mia
She is so very pretty.
Pretty bird!
Thanks for explaining the Flickers. The Yellow-shafted is a winter visitor in the Ozarks. They are so pretty when they fly.