Northern Flicker Woodpecker Yellowhammer

Facts about Yellowhammer Woodpecker or Northern Flicker Woodpeckers, Scientific name for "Yellowhammer Woodpecker or Northern Flicker Woodpecker is Colaptes auratus". The Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) is the Alabama State Bird. Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) are birds in the Class of "Aves". Scientific name for Woodpecker "Picidae".

Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker Woodpecker) is an average-sized, Colaptes type of bird that comes from the woodpecker family.

The Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) hail from the majority parts of North America, some parts of Central America, the Cayman Islands and Cuba, and the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) are one among the few woodpecker varieties that migrate. Though there are more than 100 common names for this bird, some of the commonly used names are Northern Flicker, clape, harry-wicket, gaffer woodpecker, heigh-ho, wake-up, etc. Several of the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) common names are attempts at reproducing some of its calls.

Features

Adult Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker Woodpecker) appear with brown colored body with black colored bars on the wings and in the back. An average-to-big-sized Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) has a body length, ranging from 11 inches to 14 inches (27.9 to 35.5 cm), with the wingspan between 17 inches and 21 inches (43.2 to 53.3 cm). The body mass of the bird can differ from 3 pounds to 5 29/32 pounds (1.36 to 2.67 kg). The Yellowhammer - Colaptes auratus bird has the wing bone measuring between 4 51/64 inches and 6 45/64 inches (12.2 to 17 cm), with the tail measurement between 3 inches and 4 1/2 inches (7.6 to 11.4 cm). The bill measurement of the bird ranges from 7/8 inches and 1 45/64 inches (2.2 to 4.3 cm), with the tarsus between 7/8 inches and 1 7/32 inches (2.2 to 3.1 cm).

The big-bodied Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) are native to the northern stretches of the varied range, like Alaska, Labrador and Newfoundland, whereas the smallest-bodied varieties are native to Grand Cayman Island. The upper breast of the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) has a black color patch similar to the shape of a necklace, whereas the lower breast and the abdomen of the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) are beige in color with black colored spots. Male Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s can be recognized by a red or black color line at the bottom of their beak. The tail of the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) is dark on top, changing to a white color rump, which is striking during the flight.

Male and female Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s are able to drum hollow trees logs execrate. Since woodpeckers do not have vocal cords and don't sing, this pecking activity also plays an important role in communicating with each other. Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s drumming is also to attract a mate, mark out territory, both sexes are known to drum.

Diet

Yellowhammer - Colaptes auratus birds are the lone woodpeckers that often feed on the ground. They probe their prey through their beak, occasionally catching insects during the flight, too. Usually, the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) feed on fruits, seeds, nuts and berries, but their main food is insects, such as flies, moths, butterflies, snails and beetles. Besides feeding on ants, the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s contain a behavior known as anting, through which they make use of the acid from the ants to aid in preening, as it is helpful in keeping them parasites-free.

There are more than 190 species of woodpeckers worldwide, but none of them are found in polar regions, Madagascar, New Zealand or Australia.

Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s have zygodactyl feet, having 4 fingers, which means they have two toes facing the front and two toes facing the back, that helps the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) to have a strong grip on trees vertically. The Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) use these 8 fingers with their stiff central portion tail feathers to brace on trees as they climb.

Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s tongue is up to 4 inches (10.16 cm) long. The length can be a little different depending on which species of woodpecker. Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) tongue wraps around the reinforced skull structured and squashy bone, to even out the impact of the pecking force. Many Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s have barbed tongues that helps them remove bugs from holes and tree bark.
Feathers that look like hairs on the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) nostrils, prevent ingestion of wood particles.

Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s are omnivores; meaning - an animal that eats food of both animal and plant and origin.

Woodpeckers are monogamous meaning- the pair will mate for lifetime. Both male and female prepare the nest in the tree for babies and both will help feed them. The female will lay between 3 and 5 eggs and the incubation period will lasts 11 to 14 days. After one month of hatching, young woodpeckers will leave the nest and venture out on there own.

Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s possess a protective ocular mechanisms for protecting its eyes from shaking from the pecking impact. Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s show a restricted axial globe movement due to the tight fit within the fascial tissue connections and orbit between the sclera and orbital rim.
The eyes of the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) are covered with a nictitating membrane (from Latin nictare, to blink)— a translucent and transparent third eyelid - that protects the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker)s eyes from flying debris while pecking.

When feeding, drumming and building a nest cavity, a Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) can peck up to 20 times per second, wow that's fast! or a total between 9,000 and 12,000 pecks in a day.

Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) have a prominent surge in flight comprise of three rapid wing flaps, followed by a quick glide when the Yellowhammer Woodpecker (Northern Flicker) wings are tucked against its body rather than spread out like many other birds.

The average life span of a woodpecker in the wild is 7 to 10 years, depending on the species and environment