Common Flicker vs Golden Eagle

Colaptes auratus compared with Aquila chrysaetos

Key Differences

• Common Flicker is Not Evaluated while Golden Eagle is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Flicker	Golden Eagle
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Piciformes (Piciformes)	Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles)
Family	Picidae	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)
Genus	Colaptes	Aquila (True Eagles)
Species	Colaptes auratus	Aquila chrysaetos

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Flicker and Golden Eagle share a common ancestor at the Class level: Aves. (Birds)

Conservation Status

Common Flicker

NE — Not Evaluated

Golden Eagle

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Flicker	Golden Eagle
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	30 years
Average Length	—	85 cm
Average Weight	—	5.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Flicker

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries) and North America (United States).

Golden Eagle

Habitat

Typically found in diverse ecosystems where prey species are available.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (6 countries), and North America (United States). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Common Flicker

<em>Colaptes auratus</em> is a large woodpecker in the family Picidae, order Piciformes, commonly known as the northern flicker. Unlike most woodpeckers, this species frequently forages on the ground, using its long tongue to extract ants and beetle larvae from the soil. <em>Colaptes auratus</em> is documented in Europe and the United States, where it inhabits open woodlands, forest edges, suburban areas, and parks with mature trees suitable for nesting. The species is notably adaptable in its habitat use and is one of the most widespread woodpeckers in North America. It is easily recognized by its brownish-barred plumage, spotted underparts, and a bold white rump patch visible in flight. Two main subspecies groups are recognized — the yellow-shafted form in the east and the red-shafted form in the west — which interbreed extensively where their ranges meet. Flickers are cavity nesters, excavating holes in dead or dying trees. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Golden Eagle

Among the most powerful and widely distributed raptors in the world, golden eagles have wingspans reaching 2.2 meters and inhabit mountainous terrain across the Northern Hemisphere. Supreme aerial hunters, they use soaring flight and steep dives at speeds over 200 km/h to capture rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, and occasionally young deer and foxes. In many cultures they have been central to falconry traditions spanning millennia.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States