My photo time this weekend was severely limited due to that pesky thing called work. Nevertheless I did get out for a bit and managed some captures including one of this handsome Northern Flicker. Normally they aren’t too willing to pose but this guy seemed to revel in the attention.

These birds can be found across much of the contiguous 48 United States. For some folks, they can be quite the pest as they hammer away at trees, house siding and chimneys. Taken in Adams County, Colorado.

Northern Flicker. Out for a walk with my beautiful wife this evening and saw lots of cool things – including this woodpecker. It was making quite a racket, perhaps calling to its mate. These guys are quite colorful although if you have ever had one attack your house, you probably don’t care for them too much. 😉

Kind of a neat image of a Northern Flicker. I was taking pictures of this cool bird sitting nicely on the lower branch when it suddenly decided to leap to the one above. With its wings and legs tucked back, it looked quite streamlined and sleek. Image taken in Thornton, Colorado on January 20, 2015.

Sleeping Flicker. No, not really. This Northern Flicker was simply scraping its beak on the branch it was sitting on. I followed three of these colorful woodpeckers this afternoon as they flitted about. These birds can be found across much of the contiguous 48 United States. For some folks, they can be quite the pest as they hammer away at trees, house siding and chimneys.

I took a drive this morning and while it was lacking in drama (i.e. raptors), it was not entirely fruitless.  Along a bike bath in suburban Denver I saw this guy – a Northern Flicker.

The flicker is actually one of the bigger woodpeckers and one of the few that migrate but do live year-round in much of the Lower 48.  They spend a good bit of time on the ground looking for worms and grubs.  Read more at All About Birds.