Yellow-Shafted Gilded Flicker

A gorgeous male yellow-shafted gilded flicker (woodpecker) feeding at my bird feeder, then he flies away! NOTE: It has been brought to my attention that the yellow-shafted is actually a different subspecies and that this is simply a gilded flicker. There is much overlap evidently and they are difficult to identify.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• flicker
• woodpecker
• yellow
• shafted
• gilded
• birds
• flickers
• woodpeckers
• birding
• feeder
• feeding
• fly
• flying
• flies

[jakebeggy]

This is a Gilded flicker, the yellow shafted is a different subspecies and only occurs east of the Rockies (2 separate birds). The red shafted is the 3rd of the 3 subspecies. Love your videos!

[waywardmuse]

Well, I wondered about that, but after consulting several birders and guides (especially Peterson's) there is much overlap evidently -- especially between the northern version of the "yellow-shafted." The under wing feathers are both yellow and gilded in my view. But who am I to say? One birder friend did say I'd probably be called on this one, and here you did! Well thank you for that and any other inputs you have about my vids. I appreciate them very much! Thanks again -- Judy

[cpthaylock]

Nice video; I found 5 feathers from one of these today and this helped me identify them.

[waywardmuse]

thanks :)

[despeleta]

very nice!

[waywardmuse]

thank you!

[azholly]

Jake is right, this is a Gilded Flicker. The Gilded and Yellow-Shafted sub-species are separated geographically. I would not be surprised if these became classified as separate species, since populations that become isolated geographically will differ by genetics to the extent that they may be considered separate species. Either way, the Gilded flicker is confined to the southwest. Please refer to Audubon, National Geographic & National Wildlife Federation field guides.

Excellent videos!

[jakebeggy]

@waywardmuse The definition of the gilded flicker is exactly what you said "The under wing feathers are both yellow and gilded in my view". The gilded will rarely hybridize with the red shafted flicker, but it's uncommon due to the red shafted breeding at much higher elevations and in coniferous forests.. This guy is 100% classic gilded flicker. Some specialists now call the Gilded flicker it's own species and not even a subspecies of the northern flicker (red shafted and yellow shafted)...

[zeeox]

What a stunning bird!

[waywardmuse]

you're welcome - thanks for commenting!