Anybody identify this bird?

[orezok]

I saw the headlights of the paperboy coming down the drive this morning as it was totally dark. As he got close, my sensor lights came on and spooked this bird which was roosting in the eaves. The bird flew out into the darkness and then came back and flew into the front of the house, probably breaking his neck.

I've not seen one of these in the desert and am wondering if anybody can identify it? The stripes on the wing edges are bright red. The color is a little off as I took the pic just as the sun was rising.

 

[Oldtink]

I'm going to guess a Northern Flicker.

 

[nybirdman]

That would have been my guess also.

 

[orezok]

After reviewing online pics, it looks like you guys nailed it. Desert is not it's common habitat so it must have been migrating.

Thanks.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

That would have been my guess also.

Ditto. We have a lot of them here.

 

[davesl708]

I'm going to guess a Northern Flicker.

I don't think a flicker. Flickers have a red bar on the back of the head and a yellow underbelly.

View attachment 447674

 

[2LaneCruzer]

There is something called the Gilded Flicker; the female looks like the one in the original post.


https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/gilded-flicker

 

[MossRoad]

Looks like a female flicker to me...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_flicker

There's some pictures in the link.

Flickers are easily identified when flying away from the viewer because of that white patch on their back. We have many around here in northern Indiana. Its the most common woodpecker here. They are not the brightest of birds. We frequently had them hit our windows and die.

 

[MossRoad]

I don't think a flicker. Flickers have a red bar on the back of the head and a yellow underbelly.

View attachment 447674

I think that's the male.

 

[Egon]

It looks like a dead bird.