Flicker hunts beneath tree bark

Unusual behavior for this species

February 13, 2016 at 8:56PM
(James J. Williams /The Minnesota Star Tribune)

This Northern Flicker visited our suet feeder Friday afternoon, then hopped onto the tree to poke beneath bark edges. It was, I assume, looking for insects or insect eggs. This is behavior I've not seen before. This woodpecker feeds on ants when ants are in season.

(James J. Williams /The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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