There are over 100 common names for the Northern Flicker. Among them are: Yellowhammer, clape, gaffer woodpecker, harry-wicket, heigh-ho, wake-up, walk-up, wick-up, yarrup, and gawker bird. Many of these names are attempts at imitating some of its calls. This female was pecking around on a tree, but flickers are the only woodpeckers that frequently feed on the ground”, probing with their beak.  Ants alone can make up 45% of their diet. They produce an antacid that lets them deal with the high acidity of ants.

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