Birds Active during the day

Campo Flicker

Colaptes campestris

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A striking, golden-necked woodpecker that prefers the grass to the trees. The Campo Flicker is a social, ground-dwelling bird that brings a flash of brilliant yellow and bold personality to the South American landscape.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length of 28–31 cm (11–12.2 in); weight ranges from 145–190 g (5.1–6.7 oz)

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Colors

Bright golden-yellow face and neck, black crown, brown-and-white barred back, and a white rump. Males have a red malar (mustache) stripe, while females have a blackish or mottled one.

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Key Features

Brilliant golden-yellow throat and neck
Solid black crown contrasting with yellow face
Large white rump patch highly visible in flight
Frequently seen standing on the ground or termite mounds

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 7-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Specializes in ants and termites. They use their long, barbed, sticky tongues to probe deep into underground nests or termite mounds to extract larvae and adults.

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Habitat Open grasslands, savannas (Cerrado), pastures, golf courses, and suburban gardens with large lawns.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Campo Flicker Live?

The Campo Flicker is a signature bird of South America, primarily found east of the Andes. Its core range encompasses the vast interior of Brazil, extending southward through the grasslands of Paraguay and Uruguay into the pampas of central Argentina. While it is a lowland specialist in most of its range, it is an adaptable resident that has successfully colonized suburban parks and agricultural landscapes throughout these countries.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

6 Countries

7.8M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

BR Brazil

Marginal

AR Argentina

Marginal

PY Paraguay

Marginal

UY Uruguay

Marginal

BO Bolivia

Marginal

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

Sea level – 1,700 m

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Campo Flicker is a distinctive member of the woodpecker family that has largely traded the tree canopy for the open ground. Unlike most woodpeckers that spend their lives clinging to vertical trunks, these birds are highly terrestrial, spending hours hopping across lawns and savannas. They are often seen in pairs or small family groups, maintaining contact with loud, rhythmic 'klee-klee-klee' calls that carry long distances across open terrain.

These birds are known for their 'greeting ceremonies,' where individuals face each other, bob their heads, and flick their wings to display their plumage. While they are capable of excavating nesting holes in trees, they are equally comfortable using arboreal termite mounds or even holes in banks. They are bold and relatively well-adjusted to human presence, often perching prominently on fence posts or utility poles to scan for predators or territory intruders.

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Camera Tips

To capture the best footage of a Campo Flicker, you need to think like a ground-dweller. Place your AI-powered camera low—about 10 to 15 inches off the ground—mounted on a small stake or the base of a tree. Aim the lens toward flat, grassy areas where you have seen ants or termite activity, as these birds spend the majority of their day probing the soil for food. Because they are often found in open areas, ensure your camera is positioned to avoid backlighting; a south-facing orientation (in their native range) will provide the most consistent light on their vibrant yellow feathers.

If you have a large property, look for lone fence posts or small termite mounds. Campo Flickers use these as 'lookout towers' to survey the area. Mounting a camera nearby, focusing on the top of the post or mound, is a surefire way to get high-quality, stationary shots. They are also very attracted to water, especially in drier climates or during the summer months. A ground-level birdbath or a simple shallow dish of water with a small solar dripper will act as a magnet for them, as they are frequent drinkers and bathers.

During the breeding season, usually between September and January, keep an eye out for nesting activity. They may use old fence posts or dead trees. If you find a nest site, place your camera at a respectful distance (at least 10-15 feet) with a clear line of sight to the entrance hole. This can capture fascinating behavior such as food delivery to chicks and the 'changing of the guard' between parents. Use a high-sensitivity motion setting, as their hops across the ground can be quick and erratic.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Campo Flicker.

Green-barred Woodpecker

Smaller with more green/olive tones on the back and prefers foraging in trees rather than on the ground.

Andean Flicker

Found at much higher altitudes in the Andes mountains and lacks the brilliant golden-yellow throat of the Campo Flicker.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Campo Flickers are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. You are most likely to see them foraging on the ground in the early morning hours shortly after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before dusk.

The best way to attract Campo Flickers is to maintain a chemical-free lawn with short grass, which allows them to find ants and termites easily. They are also highly attracted to ground-level water sources like shallow birdbaths or small ponds with flat stones for perching.

Their diet consists almost exclusively of ants and termites. They use their powerful bills to break into nests and their long, sticky tongues to lap up the insects. Occasionally, they may eat small fruits or beetles, but they rarely visit traditional seed feeders.

Yes, they are very adaptable and are common sights in suburban neighborhoods, city parks, and golf courses throughout Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, provided there is enough open ground for foraging.

While both have yellow on their necks, the Campo Flicker is much larger and more terrestrial. The Green-barred Woodpecker has a spotted/barred green back and spends much more time in trees, whereas the Campo Flicker has a brown-barred back and is usually seen on the ground.

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