I have seen a female flicker in my yard several times now that is really
strikingly and oddly plumaged. Many of the feathers of the upperparts are
cream-colored. The pattern is quite symmetrical, the cream extensive on
scapulars, greater primary coverts and secondaries, also white flecks all
over the crown. Some of the flight feathers seem a bit paler than normal.
Otherwise, it's colored as other flickers. First time I saw it, another
flicker chased it away, but today it's feeding next to another one on the
ground. Oops, now it just flew away. It doesn't seem to stay as long as
the other 3 flickers (a typical male and a typical female red-shafted and
one with orange shafts, very likely more) that come to the suet.

I don't guess anyone else on tweeters lives near enough to me to watch for
this bird, but it must be hanging out in the Thornton Creek ravine.

Downy Woodpeckers come to the suet, but less frequently than flickers (both
species breed in the ravine), and we've had at least one Pileated in the
neighborhood for some years. A single Red-breasted Sapsucker is the only
other woodpecker I've seen here.

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