In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention.

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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!

The featured species in this episode is the Bicolored Antbird (Gymnopithys bicolor).

Sound Citations:

Niels Krabbe, XC250916. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/250916.

Johan Chaves, XC949385. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/949385.

Niels Krabbe, XC248252. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/248252.

Patricio Mena Valenzuela, XC275411. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/275411.

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In Episode 131 of The Science of Birds, host Ivan Phillipsen takes a deep dive into one of North America's most familiar woodpeckers: the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus). Found year-round across the continent, this bird has a habit of making itself known in some startling ways, including drumming loudly on rooftops at the crack of dawn.

The episode describes the flicker's appearance, from its bold spotted plumage and signature white rump patch to the mustache-like malar stripe that sets males apart. It also covers the bird's surprisingly un-woodpecker-like lifestyle—spending most of its time hopping on the ground in pursuit of ants—and the full range of sounds it uses to communicate, from the mechanical "long call" to the rhythmic "wicka call" used in courtship and territorial disputes.

The episode gets into the centuries-old debate over whether the yellow-shafted and red-shafted forms should be considered separate species, the remarkable hybrid zone stretching across the Great Plains, and what recent genomic research has revealed about the genetics behind their different color forms. Also covered are the flicker's breeding behavior, diet, and its ecological role as a keystone species.

Despite being one of the most recognizable birds in North American backyards, flicker populations have declined by nearly 50% since 1966 — a sobering reminder that even familiar species need our attention. Tune in to learn all about this loud, lovable, ant-obsessed bird.

Links of Interest

• Northern Flicker drumming on metal roof [VIDEO]
• Pair of flickers doing the "Wicka Dance" [VIDEO]

Wild Latitudes: Worldwide birding and nature tours.

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Support the show

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!

The featured species in this episode is the Green-breasted Pitta (Pitta reichenowi).

Sound Citations:

Magnus Wadstein, XC534681. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/534681.

Jesse Fagan, XC146919. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/146919.

Support the show