A Northern Flicker nest cavity caught my attention Saturday morning at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. I spotted the flicker while driving the auto tour road. It was working around a hole in a large dead tree, so I parked and watched.
Northern Flicker Nest Cavity with a Gray Squirrel Inside
The flicker kept looking into the cavity. At first, I wondered if its mate was inside. I also wondered if there might be young birds in the nest.
Then the scene changed fast.
The flicker flew back from the hole, and a Gray Squirrel appeared. My first thought was that the squirrel may have robbed the nest. Gray squirrels can take eggs or chicks when they get access to nests.
But I could not see inside the cavity. I also did not see the squirrel carry anything away. So I cannot say that happened here.
The squirrel may have been checking the cavity, using it, or competing for the same space.
The flicker kept returning when the squirrel retreated back into the hole. This went on for a minute or two. The whole scene had that tense feel wildlife encounters often have, where I could only watch and try to read the behavior.
Reading the Flicker Behavior Around the Dead Tree
A few minutes later, the Northern Flicker flew to another nearby tree. Another flicker was perched there.
Then the two flickers mated.
That changed how I read the earlier scene. If they were still mating, they may not have had eggs or chicks in that cavity yet. They may have been early in the nesting process.
That does not mean the cavity was safe. The Gray Squirrel returned later, and it clearly had interest in the same hole.
When I came back a couple of hours later, I saw one of the flickers peeking out of the cavity.
That was a good sign. I hope the pair can hold onto the nest site and raise chicks. I plan to keep an eye on this dead tree when I drive the auto tour road.
I have also written about a Northern Flicker’s unique hunting style. This encounter showed me a different side of the same bird.
Photographing the Cavity Scene from the Auto Tour Road
I photographed this from my truck. I used a beanbag draped over the truck window for support.
That setup helped me stay still while I watched the cavity. It also let the flickers and squirrel keep doing what they were doing without me walking closer.
Camera settings for the first photo:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark 2
- Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
- Focal length: 637 mm
- Aperture: f/10
- Shutter speed: 1/3200 second
- ISO: 3200
- Exposure compensation: +2/3
- Support: Beanbag draped over truck window
- Date and time: May 9, 2026, at 07:02 A.M.
This was one of those moments where the story kept shifting. First I thought I was watching a possible nest raid. Then I watched the flickers mate nearby. Later, one was back in the cavity.
That is what keeps me watching. A few minutes beside one dead tree can tell a much bigger story.