This is the male of the species. I am familiar with two types of these birds. This N. Flicker is the Yellow Stripe variety, (The stripe is only visible when the wings are extended). The other found in the mid-west is the Blue Stripe N. Flicker. They are listed in the guidebooks along with woodpeckers. However, this pigeon sized bird spends the majority of its time foraging for insects on the ground. The female has a smaller red patch and no black on the chest or cheeks. They are vagabonds for they come and go on no regular or predictable timetable. An intelligent looking bird, don't you think... Bob