I noticed this social behavior recently at the southernmost junction of
Tualco Loop Road and Tualco Road south of Monroe, WA. It seemed unusual to
me, having only seen one or two flickers at once. I was wondering if it was
a family or extended "clan."

There were 6 or 7 flickers at this location, possibly more in an area
equivalent to a football field (fitting description this weekend, don't you
think?). It intrigued me because I had 5 of them in the same scope at once.
For fun, sometimes I like to take note of unusual multiples or combinations
of birds I get in one view of my binos or scope. That was definitely a
record for flickers in my scope.

================================
Ned McGarry
Kirkland, WA
nmcgarry at gte.net


----- Original Message -----
From: "Netta Smith" <nettasmith at attbi.com>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2002 10:03 AM
Subject: social flickers


Yo, tweeters.

I think it's a good day to be inside, as I look out on a black sky and
waving trees.

I don't know why flickers are social, but they seem to be, contrary to most
other woodpeckers. I often have 2, 3, or even 4 come into my yard at about
the same time to feed on suet and seeds. They may chase another bird from a
perch, but they are clearly associated, and sometimes they feed very close
to one another. I also often see a small bunch (5 this morning) perching
fairly close together high in a tree, and again they are obviously
associated, as there are plenty of flickerless trees all around them. Also,
sometimes I come across a small group feeding very near one another in a
grassy field, and they all fly up into the same grove of trees when flushed.
The group present now does not consist just of a family from the
neighborhood, because one of them has yellow wings (but a red malar stripe),
and none of the flickers breeding or hatched nearby were yellow-winged.

As flickers aren't social breeders (e.g., like Acorn Woodpeckers), I wonder
what's going on here. I don't have the Birds of North America account here
to see if anything has been written about this.

Dennis
--
Netta Smith and Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115