In the Great Plains area, the Northern and Eastern Flickers will often mix and interbreed. Oregon hosts the West Coast subspecies of the Northern Flicker called the Red-shafted Northern Flicker. Males, like the one pictured are differentiated from females by red patch on the cheek. Conservation Status. Northern Flicker, Rood Bridge Park, Hillsboro, Oregon on 13 March 2009 by Greg Gillson. Like the tale of the blind men describing an elephant, a new birder seeing this bird for the first time may be confused as to the identity of this unusual woodpecker. The population of Northern Flickers has declined over the past few decades, possibly due to destruction of habitat and competition with other birds for nesting area. Flickers. The Northern Flicker is found all across the western half of North America.