DESCRIPTION: Back brown with black bars (versus black and white in Gila Woodpecker), underparts white with black spots and a large, black, bib. Side of head gray (with red moustache in male) and crown is brown. In flight, notice prominent white rump patch and yellow under wings. Call is a series of loud "wick-er" notes (thus the name flicker) during the breeding season and a single "klee-yer" note year-round. Both Gilded Flickers and Gila Woodpeckers will tap loudly on metal objects as a territorial "call".
Formerly Northern Flicker, but now considered separate species again. Differentiated from Northern Flicker by having yellow under wings (versus red in red-shafted race of northern flicker that also occurs here) and narrower black bars on back.
NATURAL HISTORY: Excavate cavities in saguaros for nesting (as do Gila Woodpeckers). Although these holes can cause serious damage and even death to saguaros, the holes are used by numerous other animals for nesting and roosting. Eat lots of ants, more than any other bird in the U.S., but also eat seeds, nuts, and other invertebrates.