How to Identify the State Bird of Alabama

Northern Flicker

Oddly enough, the northern flicker is the state bird of the southern state of Alabama, having been designated such in 1929. At that time it was commonly called the yellowhammer and it is still referred to as that in parts of the state to this day. A large member of the woodpecker family, the northern flicker is a distinctively marked bird.

Instructions

1. Look for a large bird. The northern flicker is almost a foot long when it is an adult. It has a very long beak and an unmistakable red mark on the back of its head in both males and females. The male also sports a red “mustache” stripe that works down from the base of its beak. A black patch that resembles a necklace is on the chest.

2. Spot the spots. The northern flicker is grayish brown in color on its body, but has many spots on its belly. The back and wings have bars of black on them. The white on its rump is very noticeable when in flight. It flies like most woodpeckers do, in a rising and falling motion. It makes a “wik-wik-wik” sound as it flies.

3. Don’t search the skies for this woodpecker; watch the front lawn. It loves ants and is more than happy to land on the ground and spend time searching for them and then lap them up with its long tongue. The northern flicker will eat other insects along with fruits and berries. They are commonly seen on lawns where they can dig in the dirt to find ants.

4. Observe their feet. The northern flicker has a distinct foot. It has two toes in the back and two in the front. The short legs are also a giveaway.

5. Don’t be afraid to call them yellow. The state bird of Alabama has been nicknamed the yellowhammer since the Civil War. It has yellow underneath its wings and tail and the shafts of many of its feathers are also yellow, giving rise to the name yellow shafted flicker.

6. Knock on the trunks of dead trees. The northern flicker makes its nest in dead trees, digging the hole with its beak. They live in open woodlands and on the edges of the woods.

Tips & Warnings

• The northern flicker can be found in many states besides Alabama. It is a year round resident in every state except Alaska and Hawaii.