Bird Calls Radio's Bird of the Day for July 16

Well, it’s Bird Calls Radio day — as is every Saturday. Be sure to tune in at 3 p.m.

I’ll be discussing woodpeckers today, so why not feature a woodpecker as today’s Bird of the Day? The northern flicker is a unique and beautiful woodpecker. It is the only woodpecker species you’ll see regularly on the ground. Its favorite food is ants and it will devour them for long stretches on the ground. It always looks odd to me to see woodpeckers on the ground searching for food, all robin-like.

I’ve seen flickers at my seed feeders during rough winter stretches. That’s a thrill, too.

My kids (ages 4 and 8 ) know how to identify flickers by watching them fly away. I always say, “Look at their white butts.” They get a kick out of it, but it helps them learn it!”

Be sure to check out Bird Calls every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. on WSTC/WNLK AM1400/1350 (in S. CT and nearby NY) or www.wstcwnlk.com from anywhere in the world (where there’s Internet access, that is.) Thanks for checking in.