Northern Flicker

Day 97: Authorities differ on whether the Northern Flicker should be "lumped" as "Colaptes auratus" or "split" into "Colaptes auratus" and "Colaptes cafer" for the Yellow-Shafted and Red-Shafted varieties. I wish they'd get their acts together and settle it once and for all! The confusing taxonomy forces people to use common names, to be less precise. When subspecies differences are as obvious as they are between these two variants, it would seem more logical to separate them by nomenclature. Alas, I generally use David Allen Sibley's guide as my authority, so although I'd personally be inclined to call this Red-Shafted Flicker "Colaptes cafer," Sibley ironically refers to him as "Colaptes auratus," the last word translating as "yellow."

That said, I am on a first-name basis with Flicker when he comes to dine at my establishment. I know his preferences and serve him promptly, as an honored guest. He is somewhat resentful of the fact that the less mannerly Evening Grosbeaks frequently sit down to table beside him, and has been known to deliver a sharp peck to an interloper who has attempted to elbow him away from his place. His handsome spots and characteristic swag-like flight pattern ("swoop-swoop-swoop") make him easily identifiable, and although he would prefer a diet of insects, black-oil sunflower seed provides both high protein and the oils which he needs to keep his feathers sleek throughout the winter.