Northern Flicker, Drummer

2 min

•Apr 11, 20268 days ago

Summary

This BirdNote episode explains how northern flickers use drumming on metal surfaces and hollow trees to establish territory and attract mates during spring. The episode describes the flicker's physical adaptations for woodpecking and advises homeowners to be patient as the birds will move on once they find a mate.

Insights

Northern flickers use percussive drumming as a primary communication strategy for territorial and mating behaviors, not just for feeding
Woodpeckers have specialized anatomical features (claws, stiff tail) that enable their drilling behavior on various surfaces
Spring drumming on human structures is temporary and seasonal, resolving naturally when birds pair up and nest
Understanding bird behavior reduces human-wildlife conflict and encourages coexistence rather than intervention

Trends

Increased interest in backyard bird observation and feeding among homeownersGrowing consumer demand for specialized bird seed products targeting specific bird species diversityEducational content about wildlife behavior as a tool for reducing human-animal conflicts in residential areas

Topics

Northern flicker identification and behavior Woodpecker drumming and territorial communication Bird anatomy and specialized adaptations Spring bird behavior and mating season Backyard bird feeding and seed selection Human-wildlife coexistence in residential areas Bird species diversity in home gardens

Companies

Chewie.com

Online retailer offering Wild Delight bird seed products with promotional discount code for BirdNote listeners

People

Mary McCann

Narrator and host of the BirdNote Daily episode about northern flickers

Nick

Co-host discussing personal backyard bird feeding experiences and Wild Delight bird seed results

Mark

Co-host engaging in conversation about backyard bird observations

Quotes

"Members of the Woodpecker percussion band often choose early morning hours to wail away on metal roofs or gutters."

Mary McCann•Opening

"Woodpeckers announce their territory and attract mates by pounding on hollow surfaces with their bills."

Mary McCann•Early segment

"As spring moves along, the woodpecker will find a mate and lose interest in hammering on your house."

Mary McCann•Mid-episode

"I've been trying wild delayed bird seed in my feeder, and it's been amazing to see the amount and diversity of birds that come visit."

Nick•Sponsor segment

Full Transcript

This is Bird Note, and here's a sound that might jar you awake one of these spring mornings. Members of the Woodpecker percussion band often choose early morning hours to wail away on metal roofs or gutters. Woodpeckers announce their territory and attract mates by pounding on hollow surfaces with their bills. The drum may be a stovepipe, trash can, even a car hood, or a hollow tree. That's the sound of a northern flicker, a brownish woodpecker, larger than a robin, smaller than a crow, with a black crescent bib and spotted belly, and shafts of color on its wings that flicker when it flies. Drilling holes in tree trunks calls for some specialized tools, and the northern flicker has them. Big claws, for example, with two toes pointing forward and two backward, and a stiff tail to provide a third point of contact with the tree. If it sounds like a steel band has moved in, try to be patient. As spring moves along, the woodpecker will find a mate and lose interest in hammering on your house. The birds will settle into a hollow tree to produce more woodpeckers. Learn more on our website, birdnote.org. I'm Mary McCann. Hey, Nick, what's going on with your backyard birds these days? Well, I'll tell you, Mark, I've been trying wild delayed bird seed in my feeder, and it's been amazing to see the amount and diversity of birds that come visit. Just the other day and under a minute, I saw a nut hatch, a finch, a sparrow, a chickadee, and even a downy woodpecker. Wow, that is a lot of birds. Sounds like way more than you were getting with your old bird food. It's a lot more. And you want to know something great? Wild Delight is offering bird note fans a one time use 20% off code for all of their bird seed blends at chewie.com. Just use the code birdnote and get 20% off your next purchase. Terms and conditions apply.