Head to head
Green Woodpecker vs Northern Flicker
The green woodpecker and northern flicker are both unusual among woodpeckers for spending significant time feeding on open ground rather than clinging to tree trunks.
| Green Woodpecker | Northern Flicker | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Picus viridis | Colaptes auratus |
| Native range | Europe | North America |
| Primary prey | Ants, via long sticky tongue | Ants, dug from underground nests |
| Body colour | Green with a red crown | Brown, spotted, barred |
| Signature call | Loud laughing call ("yaffle") | Loud, distinctive call |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Forest, grassland | Forest |
Green Woodpecker vs Northern Flicker: common questions
Do the green woodpecker and northern flicker hunt the same way?
Both species feed heavily on ants found on open ground rather than drilling into trees, an unusual habit among woodpeckers, though the green woodpecker uses an exceptionally long tongue while the northern flicker digs ants directly out of their underground nests.
Do the green woodpecker and northern flicker share the same range?
No, the green woodpecker is native to Europe, while the northern flicker is native to North America, so the two similarly ground-foraging woodpeckers never naturally overlap.
How can you tell a green woodpecker from a northern flicker?
The green woodpecker has green plumage with a red crown, while the northern flicker has brown, spotted, and barred plumage, a clear difference in colouring between the two ground-foraging species.