I photographed this northern flicker at Sylvan Lake State Park in Colorado. It’s the only woodpecker that commonly feeds on the ground. It also has the odd distinction of having over 100 common names, including yellowhammer, clape, gaffer woodpecker, harry-wicket, heigh-ho, wake-up, walk-up, wick-up, yarrup, and gawker bird. Most of the names are attempts at imitating its calls.
Another great shot from Colorado. This is a really cool looking bird. Thanks for the trivia Sean. Are they mostly indigenous to the west coast or are they here too?
They’re beautiful until they’re waking you up at 5AM rapping on your metal chimney stack trying to get some girl yarrup to pay attention to them.
Wonderful photo!
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i like yarrup. i can hear that one.
Loooove the dress!
Agree Angelina, although I think this one is a cross dressing male.
Another great shot from Colorado. This is a really cool looking bird. Thanks for the trivia Sean. Are they mostly indigenous to the west coast or are they here too?
I like harry-wicket. It sounds like a character name for some strange dude in a Tarantino movie. Probably a hitman. :-)))
They’re beautiful until they’re waking you up at 5AM rapping on your metal chimney stack trying to get some girl yarrup to pay attention to them.
Wonderful photo!
Hey Tom,
They are widespread across the entire country. But agree, very cool looking birds. I usually see them flying through the forest.