What does the Northern Flicker eat?

The Northern Flicker's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Insectivore, primarily myrmecophagous (ant-eating), but also consumes other insects, berries, and seeds.

How it forages

Primarily feeds on ants, which it extracts from the ground using its long, barbed tongue. It also eats beetles, other insects, and in fall and winter, consumes berries and seeds. It often forages on the ground, hopping rather than walking, and uses its bill to probe soil and rotten wood.

When it feeds

Diurnal.

Explore the Northern Flicker