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 