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Gilded Flicker

Colaptes chrysoidesOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Codes: Common Name: GIFL Scientific Name: COLCHR ITIS Taxonomic No.: 554081
Least Concern
 
Gilded Flicker Breeding Male
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Overview

Gilded Flicker: Large woodpecker with dark barred and spotted brown back, brown cap, pale gray face and throat, red moustache stripe, white rump, thick black crescent on upper breast, and black spotted, pale buff underparts. It was named for the gold color of its underwings and tail.

Range and Habitat

Gilded Flicker: Resident from southeastern California and central Arizona south into Mexico. Preferred habitats include saguaro deserts, cottonwood-lined streams, and towns.

Topo Map: Tree-clinging-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

"wick-er", "kleeee-yer"

Interesting Facts

 A study reported that European Starlings had no effect on the nesting success of the Gilded Flicker in saguaro cactus, even though the two birds compete for nest holes.

 In the 1960s, taxonomists grouped the Gilded Flicker with the Red-shafted and Yellow-shafted flickers as a single species, the Northern Flicker, in recognition of the extensive interbreeding of the forms.

 The limited hybridization of the Gilded Flicker with the other forms, especially in light of their widespread hybrid zone, was the basis for the later change to recognize the Gilded Flicker as its own species.

 A group of flickers are collectively known as a "guttering", "menorah", and "Peterson" of flickers.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Splitbar
Range Map for Gilded Flicker

Related Birds

Gila Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Arizona Woodpecker
.
Family Woodpecker (Picidae)_blue
Species Colaptes chrysoides
Length10 - 12 Inches
Wingspan18 Inches

Gilded Flicker

Gilded Flicker: Large woodpecker with dark barred and spotted brown back, brown cap, pale gray face and throat, red moustache stripe, white rump, thick black crescent on upper breast, and black spotted, pale buff underparts. It was named for the gold color of its underwings and tail.

● Song: "wick-er", "kleeee-yer"

● Foraging & Feeding: Gilded Flicker: Eats insects, wild berries, and cactus fruits; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Gilded Flicker: Three to five white eggs are laid in a tree or cactus cavity, utility pole, or birdhouse. Incubation ranges from 11 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Gilded Flicker: Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) has red nape and gray crown; male also has black moustache stripe. Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) has red underwings and gray nape; female also has pale brown moustache stripe.

Flight Pattern

Alternates several rapid shallow wing beats with short glides with wings folded to sides.
Gilded Flicker Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Gilded Flicker: Resident from southeastern California and central Arizona south into Mexico. Preferred habitats include saguaro deserts, cottonwood-lined streams, and towns.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationFairly common
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight3.9 Ounces
Tree-clinging-like BodyX
UnderpartsX
Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.
BreastX
The upper front part of a bird.
CapX
The area on top of the head of the bird.
FaceX
The front part of the head consisting of the bill, eyes, cheeks and chin.
RumpX
The area between the uppertail coverts and the back of the bird.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX