A close-up photo of the head and upper body of a northern flicker (Colaptes auratus), a sleek taupe-colored woodpecker with a gray head and a long dark gray beak, dark eyes, bright red cheek patches, black barring across its back and wings, a large black chevron on its chest, black polka dots all over its belly, and a red spot on the back of its head. It has some white specks of suet on the end of its beak and is facing toward the right of frame with an alert expression, its head tilted up slightly. The light is soft and diffuse, and the background is out of focus greenery.

A close-up photo of the head and upper body of a northern flicker (Colaptes auratus), a sleek taupe-colored woodpecker with a gray head and a long dark gray beak, dark eyes, bright red cheek patches, black barring across its back and wings, a large black chevron on its chest, black polka dots all over its belly, and a red spot on the back of its head. It has some white specks of suet on the end of its beak and is facing toward the right of frame with an alert expression, its head tilted up slightly. The light is soft and diffuse, and the background is out of focus greenery.