Young Northern Flicker plumage

[The Bird Nuts]

Saw these young Northern Flickers "arguing" today and noticed that one of them has a red forehead.  Wondering if this is typical for a young flicker.

 

 

[Quiscalus quiscula]

Bump

[Bird Brain]

On 7/22/2021 at 11:12 AM, The Bird Nuts said:

Saw these young Northern Flickers "arguing" today and noticed that one of them has a red forehead.  Wondering if this is typical for a young flicker.

 

 

Good question!! I wonder if it is some sort of intergrade?

[The Bird Nuts]

Thanks, guys.  I had never seen it before, but I haven't seen many young flickers.  I believe I found a photo of one like it in the Macaulay Library after I posted this.  There seems to be a lot of variation in juvenile woodpeckers.

[lonestranger]

I can't say that I've noticed it in Northern Flickers, but I have noticed young Downy Woodpeckers getting red on their forehead before it comes in on the back of the crown so maybe it's a woodpecker thing. 

[The Bird Nuts]

12 hours ago, lonestranger said:

I can't say that I've noticed it in Northern Flickers, but I have noticed young Downy Woodpeckers getting red on their forehead before it comes in on the back of the crown so maybe it's a woodpecker thing. 

Yeah, and I think even young female Downies can sometimes have the red on the forehead.  The thing is, the other flicker with it is also young (it has the pale eyering).  But maybe it's a little older or something..