|
|
 | | From: | ann | | Subject: | Northern Flicker in Snow | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 06:36:24 GMT |
|
|
 | We had our first big snow storm for the winter today. Lots of birds
at the feeders, but this is the first I've ever seen a Northern Flicker
on a hanging feeder. He(had a mustache) seemed to be digging through
the sunflower seeds looking for something(the feeder only contained
sunflower, black oil and striped in the shell).
I thought flickers ate bugs? I've never seen them shell seeds and
it didn't look like he was shelling any seeds. It was a new feeder,
just filled with seed for the first time this week, so there shouldn't
have been any bugs(it was 10 degrees F out anyway).
So, what was he eating, maybe looking for bits of shelled sunflower?
What kind of food could I put out for him. I don't have shelled
sunflower and no bugs.
There is suet dough, but he didn't bother with that. Any ideas?
Thanks.
Ann
southcentral/east, PA USA
|
|
| | From: | Steve IA | | Subject: | Re: Northern Flicker in Snow | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 06:15:39 -0600 |
|
|
| ann wrote:
>
> We had our first big snow storm for the winter today. Lots of birds
> at the feeders, but this is the first I've ever seen a Northern Flicker
> on a hanging feeder. He(had a mustache) seemed to be digging through
> the sunflower seeds looking for something(the feeder only contained
> sunflower, black oil and striped in the shell).
>
> I thought flickers ate bugs? I've never seen them shell seeds and
> it didn't look like he was shelling any seeds. It was a new feeder,
> just filled with seed for the first time this week, so there shouldn't
> have been any bugs(it was 10 degrees F out anyway).
>
> So, what was he eating, maybe looking for bits of shelled sunflower?
>
> What kind of food could I put out for him. I don't have shelled
> sunflower and no bugs.
>
> There is suet dough, but he didn't bother with that. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ann
> southcentral/east, PA USA
"Our" flickers don't show up at the feeders until really snowy and cold
weather, like the last 2 weeks. There have been 2 feeding on the oil SFS
and homemade birdballs and peanut butter and suet. Yesterday with 2F and
40+ mph winds there were 4.
Steve
41N Southiowa
|
|
| | From: | tommyzxr at yahoo.com | | Subject: | Re: Northern Flicker in Snow | | Date: | 23 Jan 2005 11:43:43 -0800 |
|
|
| I'm not sure of your situation all I know is that half of their diet
is ants and they also feed on beetles, berries, caterpillars, grubs and
wasps. They'll come to feeders for suet or suet mixes. ( by the way
have you had any recent sightings of pileated woodpeckers?)
(always looking for info. thanks. :)
|
|
| | From: | Scott Hill | | Subject: | Re: Northern Flicker in Snow | | Date: | Sat, 22 Jan 2005 22:44:40 -0800 |
|
|
| I regularly see a Northern Flicker at my feeders. Although he isn't as
regular as the Downy that does come around, he does occasionally eat the
black oil sunflower seeds and suet. My feeders are hanging on a dead birch
tree - more often than not I see him (or her) a few feet above the feeder
happily looking for bugs.
"ann" wrote in message
news:41F34B52.EAEF37CD@xmindspring.com...
> We had our first big snow storm for the winter today. Lots of birds
> at the feeders, but this is the first I've ever seen a Northern Flicker
> on a hanging feeder. He(had a mustache) seemed to be digging through
> the sunflower seeds looking for something(the feeder only contained
> sunflower, black oil and striped in the shell).
>
> I thought flickers ate bugs? I've never seen them shell seeds and
> it didn't look like he was shelling any seeds. It was a new feeder,
> just filled with seed for the first time this week, so there shouldn't
> have been any bugs(it was 10 degrees F out anyway).
>
> So, what was he eating, maybe looking for bits of shelled sunflower?
>
> What kind of food could I put out for him. I don't have shelled
> sunflower and no bugs.
>
> There is suet dough, but he didn't bother with that. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ann
> southcentral/east, PA USA
>
|
|
| | From: | Howard Lester | | Subject: | Re: Northern Flicker in Snow | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 12:11:01 -0700 |
|
|
| You could try shelled peanuts.
Howard in Tucson
|
|
|
