Sunday, March 25, 2012

A Fallen Flicker

 

This Northern Flicker just fell dead from the sky yesterday and landed right in the middle of the place where I sit in my  Adirondack chairs in the way back. I don't usually do post-mortem photography but I decided to take photos of this beautiful bird before moving him to a more out of the way spot. I turned him over to reveal the yellow flight feathers on these birds here in the east. Out west they are red. Click on the link to learn more about this woodpecker and listen to his call. I'd still like to know what happened to this poor Flicker.

11 comments:

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

So sad especially when you don't know why they died.
I had a woodpecker hammering on the house this morning. I live in a metal mobile home so you know how loud it was. Didn't need any alarm clock!

Bonnie said...

Oh bless him! I wonder what happened?

Anonymous said...

he still looks very pretty at this point. and kind of nice to see his lovelyness before decay sets in.

Susie said...

Rosemary, When we moved here, a flicker is the first bird I saw, that I had never seen before. I checked yesterday's post..I am not a dog person, but I love your dog Webster. He looked forelorn at the window. Smiles to you and Webster. Susie

Karen said...

Poor little guy, I'm glad you offered him a kind word and remembrance on your site. RIP.
Karen

Unknown said...

A very upsetting mystery. But thank you for photographing the bird. All those different feather colors and patterns --- a work of art.

Sparrow Rose said...

Unlike humans, wild animals tend to be active right up to the moment of their death. I've also seen it in my pet rats -- they slow down a bit but many are often still running and playing minutes before they succumb.

Birds are the same way and they don't tend to become decrepit and inactive as they age. So it's not at all uncommon for a bird to die of natural causes (i.e. of old age) in mid-flight, falling from the sky.

Your beautiful flicker was probably just old and went naturally.

@coolgreenpines said...

NOOOO. Oh sadness.

We found a little hummingbird laying on the ground like this. It's nature but still so heartbreaking. You can't help always wondering how or if you could have done something. :(

JudyMac said...

I saw a Flicker recently at a friend's home ...... pecking along the edge of a wooded area among rocks at edge of grass. This is the only member of the woodpecker family that feeds primarily on the ground for bugs and such. More exciting even, yesterday, for the first time in a while, a Pileated Woodpecker visited the area around my seed and suet feeders. It is always exciting to see this gorgeous big bird!

Stacey Snacks said...

What great pics of Woody.
Beautiful.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

I didn't realize there were the feather color differences in flickers. I love seeing them in our yard. They come to our suet feeder and poke their very long bills in and enjoy a treat.