Juvenile northern flickers look like smaller, fluffier versions of their parents, with the same brown barred back, black chest crescent, and spotted belly, but their flight feathers are shorter, their tails are not yet fully stiffened for climbing, and their overall plumage appears duller and more mottled. They leave the nest about three to four weeks after hatching, still dependent on adults for food for another two to three weeks while they learn to forage on their own.
What Does a Juvenile Northern Flicker Look Like?
Northern flickers are large woodpeckers (about 12 inches long) with two main color forms in North America: the yellow-shafted in the east and the red-shafted in the west. Juveniles of both forms share a similar appearance:
- Head: Grayish-brown, with a less distinct red nape crescent (yellow-shafted) or red malar stripe (red-shafted) than adults.
- Body: Brown back with black barring, pale buff or whitish belly with round black spots. The black chest crescent is present but often less bold.
- Wings and tail: Flight feathers are shorter and more rounded; the tail feathers are not yet stiff, making climbing less assured.
- Bill: Slightly shorter and less chisel-like than an adult’s, but still pointed.
- Eyes: Dark brown, similar to adults; the eye ring is less pronounced.
Juveniles often look “fuzzier” because their body feathers have softer edges, and they may show a pale gape (the fleshy corner of the mouth) for a few days after fledging.
Nesting and Fledging Timeline
Northern flickers are cavity nesters. They typically excavate a new nest hole each year in a dead tree or branch, often in a deciduous tree like aspen or cottonwood, but they will also use nest boxes. The female lays 5–8 white eggs, and both parents incubate for about 11–12 days. The young hatch blind and helpless (altricial).
Both parents feed the nestlings regurgitated insects. The nestling period lasts about 25–28 days. When the young fledge, they cannot fly strongly and often stay in the vicinity of the nest tree, calling frequently to attract the parents’ attention. For the next two to three weeks, the adults continue to feed them, gradually reducing the feedings as the juveniles learn to catch ants and other insects on their own.
What Do Juvenile Flickers Eat?
Like adults, juvenile flickers primarily eat ants and beetles. They have a long, slightly curved tongue with sticky saliva to capture ants from underground tunnels. Young birds learn by watching their parents and by probing the ground with their bills. They also eat other insects, such as caterpillars and grasshoppers, and occasionally fruits and seeds, especially in fall. In backyards, they may visit suet feeders, but they are more likely to forage on the ground than other woodpeckers.
How to Tell a Juvenile from an Adult
The easiest way to distinguish a juvenile from an adult is by behavior and plumage condition:
- Behavior: Juveniles beg with a loud, raspy “weep” call and flutter their wings. They are often seen following an adult closely.
- Plumage: Juveniles have shorter tails and wings, and their body feathers appear less crisp. The black chest crescent is often narrower and less defined.
- Molt: By late summer, juveniles undergo a partial molt and begin to look more like adults, but they retain some juvenile wing feathers until their first full molt in the following year.
If you see a young flicker alone, it is not necessarily orphaned. Parents often leave fledglings for short periods to forage. Observe from a distance to see if the parents return.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
One common misconception is that a juvenile flicker found on the ground is injured or abandoned. In reality, fledglings spend several days on the ground or low branches while their flight muscles develop. If it is not in immediate danger (e.g., from cats or traffic), the best action is to leave it alone.
Another issue is that flickers may drum on houses or metal chimneys in spring, which can be mistaken for a structural problem. This is a territorial display, not an attempt to excavate the house. Juveniles may also peck at siding, but they usually stop once they learn that it does not yield insects.
Flickers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States and Canada. It is illegal to keep a wild juvenile as a pet or to disturb an active nest without a permit.
How to Help Juvenile Flickers in Your Yard
If you want to support young flickers, consider these steps:
- Leave dead trees standing (if safe) to provide nesting and roosting cavities.
- Install a nest box designed for flickers (about 12x12x24 inches with a 2.5-inch entrance hole) in early spring.
- Provide a water source, such as a ground-level birdbath, since flickers often drink while on the ground.
- Offer suet in a feeder that allows clinging, especially during the fledgling period.
- Reduce pesticide use, as ants are a primary food source.
If you find a juvenile that is clearly injured (e.g., bleeding, unable to stand, or with a drooping wing), contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Do not attempt to feed or care for it yourself, as improper care can be fatal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do juvenile flickers stay with their parents?
After fledging, juveniles remain dependent on their parents for about two to three weeks. They may stay in the family territory for up to a month before dispersing.
What should I do if I find a baby flicker on the ground?
If the bird is fully feathered and able to hop, it is likely a fledgling. Leave it alone and keep pets away. If it is featherless or clearly injured, contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
Do juvenile flickers eat the same food as adults?
Yes, they eat the same diet of ants, beetles, and other insects, plus some fruits and seeds. They learn to forage by following their parents.
Are juvenile flickers friendly to humans?
Wild flickers are generally wary of humans, but juveniles may be less cautious. They do not become tame, and it is illegal to keep them as pets.
How can I tell a yellow-shafted from a red-shafted juvenile?
In juveniles, look at the wing and tail shafts: yellow-shafted flickers have yellow under the wings and tail, while red-shafted have salmon-red. Also, yellow-shafted males have a red nape crescent, while red-shafted males have a red mustache stripe.
Do flickers migrate?
Northern flickers are partial migrants. Northern populations move south in winter, while southern populations may stay year-round. Juveniles from northern areas may migrate their first fall.
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