Red-shafted Flicker

At Nisqually national wildlife refuge on 2 July  2020, Erika and I photographed a Northern Flicker. Although not clearly visible in this image, this bird was the expected red-shafted race that inhabits much of western North America. I have discussed racial differences in flickers elsewhere in this blog. This bird appears to be young. Young males may have some red in their crowns—females usually lack this color. In this plumage both sexes can have red mustache stripes. This field mark tends to be more pronounced and brighter in males than in females. This bird, therefore, is probably a female.