SpeciesFacts

All species › Birds › Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

Bird · family Picidae · order Piciformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
50 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
9 years[4]

The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a bird in the woodpecker family, Picidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Northern Flicker a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N5B,N5N, which means Secure for breeding birds and Secure for birds that spend the non-breeding season here[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8]. NatureServe estimates more than 1,000,000 adults worldwide[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Northern Flicker lives

NatureServe lists the Northern Flicker as native in 50 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. That covers Alaska, Texas, Maine, California and many states in between[3]. Lists show where NatureServe records the bird, so they do not promise you will see one in a given state[3].

Alaska: native, state rank S5BAKMaine: native, state rank S5B,S5NMEWisconsin: native, state rank S4BWIVermont: native, state rank S5BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5BNHWashington: native, state rank S5WAIdaho: native, state rank S5IDMontana: native, state rank S5MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRBMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: native, state rank S5ORNevada: native, state rank S5NVWyoming: native, state rank S5B,S5NWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5B,S3NSDIowa: native, state rank S5BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4B,S4N,S5MPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S4CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5B,S5NRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S5UTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S4B,S4NKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5B,S5NMDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5B,S5NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S2N,S5BDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S4LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S3B,S4NTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (50 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
AlaskaS5BSecure (breeding)
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS4Apparently Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS2N,S5BImperiled (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5BSecure (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
LouisianaS4Apparently Secure
MaineS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MarylandS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaS5Secure
NebraskaS5Secure
NevadaS5Secure
New HampshireS5BSecure (breeding)
New JerseyS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS5Secure
PennsylvaniaS4B,S4N,S5MApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding), Secure (migrant)
Rhode IslandS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
South DakotaS5B,S3NSecure (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
UtahS5Secure
VermontS5BSecure (breeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonS5Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
WyomingS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records hardwood, conifer and mixed woodland, savanna, old fields, suburban areas and orchards, and riparian (streamside) areas as habitat[11]. In general it uses open forest and open woodland with scattered trees and dead standing trunks, and it also uses parks[12]. It nests in dead trunks, stumps or the dead tops of living trees, and sometimes in wooden poles, buildings or earth banks[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Northern Flicker is about 32 cm (13 in) long and a typical adult weighs about 142 g[13][14]. It is an invertivore and herbivore, which means it eats small animals without backbones and plant foods[15]. One estimate puts its diet at 70% invertebrates, 20% fruit and 10% seeds[16]. It eats ants, beetles, wasps and grasshoppers, taking them from the ground or in the air[17]. A typical clutch size is 4, and incubation lasts about 11 days[18][19]. Young birds leave the nest 25 to 28 days after hatching[20]. The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 9 years 2 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[13] 32 cm (13 in)
Typical adult weight[14] 142 g (5.0 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[21] 12.5 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 9 years 2 months
Litter or clutch size[18] 4
Gestation or incubation[19] 11 days
Female maturity[22] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[15] Invertivore, Herbivore
Migration[23] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[16]

  • 70% invertebrates
  • 20% fruit
  • 10% seeds

When to look for it

The Northern Flicker is diurnal, which means it is active during the day[24]. Migration varies by population. Some do not migrate, some move short distances and some travel long distances[23]. Birds that breed in the far north tend to head south when winter comes[25]. On GBIF, most US records fall in April, May and October[26]. These records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[26].

January: 822,841 recordsJanFebruary: 761,117 recordsFebMarch: 918,330 recordsMarApril: 1,596,141 recordsAprMay: 1,532,758 recordsMayJune: 836,091 recordsJunJuly: 717,969 recordsJulAugust: 670,605 recordsAugSeptember: 1,142,783 recordsSepOctober: 1,277,767 recordsOctNovember: 867,048 recordsNovDecember: 856,390 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January822,841
February761,117
March918,330
April1,596,141
May1,532,758
June836,091
July717,969
August670,605
September1,142,783
October1,277,767
November867,048
December856,390

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Northern Flicker as present in 261 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 237 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, New York, Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania[28]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Northern Flicker endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2].
Where does the Northern Flicker live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 50 US states and territories, including Alaska, Florida, Texas and Maine[3]. It uses open woodland, savanna, riparian areas and suburban areas[11].
What does the Northern Flicker eat?
It mostly eats insects such as ants and beetles, and also fruit, berries and seeds[17]. One estimate is 70% invertebrates, 20% fruit and 10% seeds[16].
How big is a Northern Flicker?
It is about 32 cm (13 in) long and a typical adult weighs about 142 g[13][14].
How long does a Northern Flicker live?
The oldest known wild Northern Flicker from banding records was at least 9 years 2 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Northern Flicker is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Northern Flicker: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Northern Flicker as native in 50 US states and territories: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Northern Flicker from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 9 years 2 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a bird in the family Picidae, order Piciformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Northern Flicker is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Northern Flicker (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Northern Flicker: Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Savanna, Old field, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Northern Flicker. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 32 cm (13 in). NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 142 g (5.0 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 70% invertebrates, 20% fruit, 10% seeds. EltonTraits 1.0
  17. NatureServe notes on food for Northern Flicker. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  19. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 11 days. AnAge
  20. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Northern Flicker. NatureServe Explorer
  21. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 12.5 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for Northern Flicker: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Northern Flicker. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Northern Flicker in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Northern Flicker as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  28. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Northern Flicker: California, New York, Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.