Overview Of The Brown Gilded Flicker
Scientific Classification
The brown gilded flicker is scientifically classified as follows:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Piciformes
- Family: Picidae
- Genus: Colaptes
- Species: Colaptes chrysoides
- Subspecies: Colaptes chrysoides brunnescens
Want to learn more about bird subspecies:
Identification
This bird is a captivating woodpecker species known for its particular features:
Size: Medium-sized, typically measuring 10 to 11 inches (25-28 cm) in length.
Plumage: Predominantly brownish-gray body adorned with black spots and bars. Notably, it exhibits golden-yellow wings and tail feathers, a key characteristic.
Facial Markings: Adult males often display a red crescent mark on the nape, a distinguishing feature absent in females and younger flickers.
Habitat: Primarily located in the northern and central regions of California, this flicker species thrives in various wooded habitats.
Location
The brown gilded flicker is found in northern and central California. Its range extends from the northern Central Valley up through the Sacramento Valley and into the northern Coast Ranges.
It is generally found below 3000 feet in elevation. This subspecies is non-migratory and resides year-round within its range in California.
Unique Traits
They have some unique traits compared to other North American woodpeckers. One distinct behavior is its tendency to forage on the ground for ants, a habit more typical of meadowlarks than woodpeckers.
It uses its long-barbed tongue to lap up ants. This ground-foraging lifestyle means it is often seen walking on open ground rather than perched on trees.
Another unique feature is the brown gilded flicker’s inclination to excavate nest cavities in mature trees that are still alive rather than snags. This is an unusual nesting behavior for woodpeckers. The nest cavity is typically 10-70 feet above ground.
Summary
The brown gilded flicker is a large, non-migratory woodpecker endemic to California. It can be identified by its brown and black barred plumage, distinctive black crescent on the breast, and red mustache stripe on the male.
This bird is found nowhere else in the world beyond its limited range in California.
Frequently Ask Questions
01. What is the brown gilded flicker’s conservation status?
The brown gilded flicker is not considered threatened or endangered. Its population appears to be stable currently and it is fairly common within its range. However, habitat loss is an ongoing concern.
02. What does the brown gilded flicker eat?
The brown gilded flicker is omnivorous. Its diet consists mainly of ants, which it laps up with its specialized tongue. It also eats other insects like beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers.
03. Is the Brown Gilded Flicker affected by habitat loss?
like many bird species, the Brown Gilded Flicker is adversely affected by habitat loss due to urbanization and deforestation. Loss of suitable nesting sites and foraging grounds poses a significant threat to their populations.
