Alabama State flag  Location  The  northern flicker   or  common flicker  ( Colaptes auratus ) is a medium-sized bird of the  woodpecker  family. It is native to most of North America, parts of Central America, Cuba, and the  Cayman Islands , and is one of the few woodpecker species that  migrate . Over 100 common names for the northern flicker are known, including  yellowhammer  (not to be confused with the Eurasian  yellowhammer  ( Emberiza citrinella )),  clape ,  gaffer woodpecker ,  harry-wicket , [2]   heigh-ho ,  wake-up ,  walk-up ,  wick-up ,  yarrup , and  gawker bird . Many of these names derive from attempts to imitate some of its  calls . It is the state bird of Alabama (known by its colloquial name "yellowhammer"). [3]