I thought I was on to something unusual when I came upon this pair of birds yesterday. Such distinct markings – the flecks of black on the brown body, the black mark on the chest, the stroke of red on the head, the mustache, the long beak. I have no memory of having seen it before.
I couldn’t wait to consult my Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America.
The Stokes book features a wonderful and helpful map of North America on each new bird page. It color codes the location of the bird during various seasons. Well, this bird is so common, the whole of North America is filled with color.
So, I’d come upon none other than the very usual northern flicker, a large woodpecker.
Pictured here are two males, though I wonder if one might be older than the other, as one is darker.
As one took to the air, a streak of yellow could be seen. And just beginning to show is the tell-tail large white blotch of the rear end which distinguishes this bird in flight.
SilverLining 
My family and I saw these and didn't what type of bird they were……they are extraordinary and beautiful creatures!!!! They built a nest in our hanging fern plants on our front porch and had four babies. They were very adorable!
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Thanks for visiting SilverLining and for sharing a comment. That's the only time I saw the Northern Flicker at the pond. They had such distinctive markings, I was sure I would have noticed them if ever they'd been present before. I think they are fairly common in my area, but for some reason, that was the one and only time I saw them! How lucky that you saw them nest and have babies!
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