Common Flicker vs Golden-olive Woodpecker

Colaptes auratus compared with Colaptes rubiginosus

Key Differences

• Common Flicker is Not Evaluated while Golden-olive Woodpecker is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Flicker	Golden-olive Woodpecker
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order same	Piciformes (Piciformes)	Piciformes (Piciformes)
Family same	Picidae	Picidae
Genus same	Colaptes	Colaptes
Species	Colaptes auratus	Colaptes rubiginosus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Flicker and Golden-olive Woodpecker share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Colaptes.

Conservation Status

Common Flicker

NE — Not Evaluated

Golden-olive Woodpecker

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Flicker	Golden-olive Woodpecker
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

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-olive Woodpecker

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

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-olive Woodpecker

Golden-olive Woodpecker (Colaptes rubiginosus) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway