My usual photography setup involves my deck, but this time, I found myself on the ground near my Washington Hawthorn tree, ready to capture birds feasting on its berries. As I leaned against a cedar tree, a Northern Flicker landed nearby, searching for food. I managed to slowly position my camera and photograph this bird. One of my photos shows the Flicker lifting a leaf to inspect it for insects.
Northern Flickers stand out among woodpeckers as they primarily forage on the ground rather than drilling into trees. They use their long tongues to extract ants and larvae from the soil. This year, I’ve noticed a significant increase in ants in my yard, and I’ve observed them diligently consuming them.
During the colder months when insect populations decline, Northern Flickers adapt their diet to include more fruits and seeds. While I spotted them around the Hawthorn Tree, I didn’t witness any of them consuming the berries.
Image Details: (First Image)
- Date: November 17, 2024
- Time: 9:16 AM
- Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark 2
- Lens: Canon RF 200 – 800
- ISO: 2500
- Aperture: f/9
- Shutter Speed: 1/1000
- Exposure Compensation: + 0.7