woodpeckers: Part VI

Today, the Gilded Flicker. The Gilded Flicker is a large flicker nearly identical to the Northern Flicker. The Gilded Flicker has yellowish underwings, while the Northern Flicker has reddish underwings. but, at rest this is not visible. But, unlike the Northern Flicker, the Gilded is found only in Southern Arizona, the northwest corner of Mexico, and Baja -- essentially the Sonoran Desert. The Gilded builds its nest in the Saguaro Cactus like the Gila Woodpecker. The Saguaro Cactus secrets a sap around the "drilled" hole, which hardens and then protects the Saguaro from loss of water. When the Saguaro dies (150 - 200 years) or by other means, out pops a "boot" of the harden shell. The Northern Flicker rarely nests in Saguaros, rather in Riparian Wood. Both photos today from The Azure Gate.

Gilded Flicker on stalk of Century Plant

Gilded Flicker on trunk of African Sumac