This blog follows the plants and animals found in my yard located in Topeka Kansas. I've landscaped my entire yard with native plants of Kansas. Find out what wildlife he has attracted to his yard, what plants are growing, and the ecology of a native garden.
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Monday, April 9, 2018
Intergrade Northern Flicker Eating at Suet Log Feeder 2018
I spotted this unusual female northern flicker on Mar 3 2018 in my Topeka KS yard at my suet log feeder eating homemade suet. I believe this is a female intergrade northern flicker. It’s a female because it has no malar (mustache) stripe. An intergrade northern flicker is a mix of yellow-shafted and red-shafted subspecies of flicker. Yellow-shafted flickers are the eastern subspecies while Red-shafted are the subspecies of the west. Red shafted flickers have a gray face, brown crown and no red crescent on the nape as well as reddish feathers on the underside of the wings and tail. Male red-shafted flickers also have a red malar stripe (mustache). Yellow shafted flickers have a brown face, gray crown and a bold red crescent on the nape as well as yellow feathers on the undreside of the wings and tail. Male yellow-shafted flickers also have a black malar stripe (mustache). This bird has a grayish brown head but has a small red crescent on the nape. I believe it an intergrade having traits of both subspecies . If you agree or disagree feel free to leave a comment below the video.
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