A Northern Flicker, ‘Red Shafted Flicker’ is spotted during a morning walk today perched high atop a tree, admiring the view and lifting spirits in White Rock and all over Los Alamos. Flickers are members of the woodpecker family. They are named for the brilliant red or yellow undersides of their wings and tails that cause the birds to resemble flickering flames when they fly. Flickers are primarily ground-feeding woodpeckers. They hunt for ants and other subterranean insects using their feet and strong bills to dig and remove insects from the ground. Like other woodpeckers, flickers eat fruit, nuts and seeds, and often visit bird feeders to consume suet and seed when insects are not available. Source: www.audubon.org. Photo by Nancy Ann Hibbs