Video: Mr. Flicker takes a bath.

This morning, a Northern Flicker came to the bird bath. I think they are one of the most beautiful birds around here but they never come to my feeders - they prefer drilling the lawn for ants. So I was delighted to watch him. With his short woodpecker legs, he seemed to have some issues with the pebbles, but he still made it work. I hope he comes back. (The male can be distinguished from the female by his “mustache”. The female doesn’t have that.)

Video: Northern Flicker drinking

First he does a drum, then he takes a sip. This Northern Flicker is loving our gutters lately. He uses them to make noise to get the attention of the Flicker ladies in the neighborhood. We have updated the woodpecker nest box to fit the likes of him. Maybe we will get lucky this year.