[CT Birds] What N. Flickers eat

[Mntncougar at aol.com]

I usually have a Flicker or 2 around my yard.  Most often  I see them on my 
suet feeder and occasionally on a regular feeder.  Today I  had one on the 
platform feeder on my back porch, first time I've seen him  there.  I have a 
standard seed mix plus peanuts on it, and I add handfuls  of millet for the 
Juncos.  I Assumed he would be after the peanuts, as that  seems to be what 
they favor from the suet, but as I watched, he appeared to  be pecking at 
the platform.  Turned out he was gobbling up millet as fast  as he could pick 
it up.  He had millet seeds or shells stuck to his beak,  and it looked odd 
seeing that giant bill with the tiny millet seeds in it.   Guess he likes a 
well-rounded diet.  He never touched any other item that I  could see.
 
Don Morgan
Coventry