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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Northern Flicker Golden Show, Canon SX 50 HS

Three Northern Flickers were displaying in the top of our maple tree this morning. There were two males and a female. Here is a photo I took of a male displaying. He would bob his head up and down and side to side, then fan his tail, showing the beautiful golden underside. Dramatic colors on a bird are often there because they have an important function in displays.
When this display is done between two birds of the same sex it is generally competition for a mate, as here. When done between a male and a female it is part of courtship. These displays are accompanied by the "woikawoikawoika" call and are done early in the spring before nest-building occurs. Look for this fascinating Northern Flicker behavior now.
Canon SX 50 HS photo (Av, 1/500, f 6.5, 195% digital zoom.) These birds were quite far away. So glad for the telephoto power of this point-and-shoot superzoom camera.

1 comment:

KristiBowmanDesign said...

I love watching the Flicker shows this time of year, along with listening to them coo! I have heard them off in the distance somewhere but so far I haven't seen them, can't wait!