The Northern Flicker
From The Science of Birds by Ivan Phillipsen
April 5, 2026 · 56 min · Episode 131
About this episode
This episode explores the Northern Flicker, a common woodpecker in North America, detailing its appearance and behavior.
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In Episode 131 of The Science of Birds, host Ivan Phillipsen takes a deep dive into one of North America's most familiar woodpeckers: the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus). Found year-round across the continent, this bird has a habit of making itself known in some startling ways, including drumming loudly on rooftops at the crack of dawn. The episode describes the flicker's appearance, from its bold spotted plumage and signature whit...
People in this episode
Host: Ivan Phillipsen
Topics covered
- woodpeckers
- Northern Flicker
- bird behavior
- birdwatching
- avian species
Keywords
- Northern Flicker
- Colaptes auratus
- woodpecker
- bird behavior
- avian species
- birdwatching
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Northern Flicker
Places: North America, the continent
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