Flicker is bigger than the little juncos and towhees. He takes advantage of his size to get his fill of suet.
It’s cold and rainy in the video clip. The towhee and junco try in vain to get a bite.
But all are vulnerable when the hawk moves in.
I’m trying my hand at writing cinquains (sin kanes). They have five lines with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 2 syllables in each line respectively.
Be patient please. This is my first one ever.
Flicker
Hogging suet
Hungry but not sharing
Forgets about pecking order
And hawks.


December 30, 2025 at 2:03 am
That’s a great little cinquain, Anneli. I enjoyed your photos of the birds and especially the video.
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December 30, 2025 at 9:34 am
The video worked for me in this case because it showed the rain, the poor towhee waiting his turn, and the junco trying in vain to get a piece of the action.
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December 30, 2025 at 4:12 am
A great situation for a cinquain Anneli. Flickers always seem to have a way of grabbing a bite. Wishing you a Happy New Year. Allan
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December 30, 2025 at 9:34 am
Might makes right.
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December 30, 2025 at 7:29 am
Lovely cinquain and flicker feeding fest.
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December 30, 2025 at 9:36 am
Fine fodder for famous followers.
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December 30, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Fabulous friends feed feathered flickers.
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December 30, 2025 at 4:40 pm
Frivolously.
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December 30, 2025 at 8:02 am
Nicely done, Anneli. Love the photos as well. — Sonja
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December 30, 2025 at 9:33 am
Unfortunately I have to take a lot of these pictures from inside the house, and if I clean my windows, the birds will hit them. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
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December 30, 2025 at 8:30 am
I don´t blame the flicker to get right at it with his size. Beautiful pictures!
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December 30, 2025 at 9:32 am
It’s too bad they take over, but everything is hungry these cold days. Thanks for visiting, Ursula.
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December 30, 2025 at 9:14 am
Great photos and video.
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December 30, 2025 at 9:28 am
Thanks, Mags. Those flickers were really hungry.
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December 30, 2025 at 10:01 am
You are welcome. Thank you for feeding that hungry flicker. I had never heard of flickers until I saw one in my backyard a few years ago. I got online to see what kind of bird it was. I have since seen three in my yard.
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December 30, 2025 at 10:09 am
Good for you, Mags. I’m shocked by how many people are unaware of so much of the wildlife we share the world with. It’s good to see that you’re resourceful. And look at your reward! You’re seeing birds you didn’t know about. Keep your eyes and ears open. There are treasures all around you.
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December 31, 2025 at 9:09 am
Every time I see a bird I have not seen before I get very excited and thankful.
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December 31, 2025 at 11:36 am
Birds make our world even more beautiful than it already is.
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December 31, 2025 at 11:43 am
For sure.
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December 30, 2025 at 1:20 pm
Haha. We have huge Flickers at our suet feeder also, and they are quite sure they are at the top of that ‘pecking order.’ But better watch out for that hawk. Those birds are ferocious and quite tenacious when they see a tasty (bird) morsel!! xo
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December 30, 2025 at 4:39 pm
Yes, sadly I have seen hawk standing over flickers they’ve just brought down. It’s a real dilemma because the hawks have to eat too, but my poor flickers….
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January 1, 2026 at 1:41 pm
Nature can be cruel as well as beautiful. xo
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January 1, 2026 at 4:35 pm
Yes! I’ve thought that so many times.
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December 30, 2025 at 2:05 pm
I hope he left some for the little guys:
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December 30, 2025 at 4:38 pm
A little bit, yes.
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December 31, 2025 at 3:38 am
You did well with the cinqueain, Anneli. I love the video.
Happy New Year.
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December 31, 2025 at 7:26 am
Thanks, V. They are new for me.
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December 31, 2025 at 11:39 am
I’ve never written one. I must have a go.
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December 31, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Yes, give it a try. It’s not hard.
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December 31, 2025 at 11:22 am
Well done on the poem. Flicker is ‘the boss.’
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December 31, 2025 at 11:35 am
Thanks a lot, Jennie.
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December 31, 2025 at 5:26 pm
You’re welcome, Anneli.
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January 1, 2026 at 5:48 pm
I like your cinquain! I recognize that bird, too! Its cousins hang around our house here in Pennsylvania 🙂
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January 1, 2026 at 5:53 pm
Do you know if it is the red-shafted flicker or the yellow-shafted flicker? Notice the underside of the tail feathers where he is propping himself on the post? That’s the “red” shaft on our northern flicker. It would be interesting to know what kind you have there.
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January 2, 2026 at 6:01 pm
We get the red-shafted flickers here in PA.
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January 2, 2026 at 6:06 pm
Okay, thanks. That’s what we have too.
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