Gilded Flicker

Colaptes chrysoides

A desert specialist, this golden-winged woodpecker brings life to saguaro forests across the American Southwest.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Gilded Flicker is a medium-sized woodpecker with distinctive brown and yellow plumage. Its back is barred brown and white, while its underwings and tail display a striking golden-yellow color. The bird has a grey bill, a brown crown, and a grey face.

Males feature a red malar stripe (mustache) below the eye, which females lack. Otherwise, both sexes are alike in coloring and size and have black crescents on their chests and white rumps visible during flight.

Juvenile Gilded Flickers have similar markings to adults, but the coloring is less bold. The cheek stripe and black bib may be visible, but they are far less obvious and less vibrant.

Size

Length

28cm to 31cm

Wingspan

43cm to 48cm

Weight

95g to 130g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Brown Yellow

Secondary Colour

Black White Red

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Yellow

Secondary Colour (Female)

Black White

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Gilded Flicker can be found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Gilded Flicker is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Gilded Flickers are primarily found in the Sonoran Desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They inhabit areas with saguaro cacti, mesquite woodlands, and desert scrub vegetation.

Their range in the United States is limited to parts of Arizona and southeastern California. They are year-round residents in these areas, showing little seasonal variation in their distribution patterns.

Elevation Range

Up to 900 meters

Climate zones

Arid, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Gilded Flicker. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons