Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Having red shafts of the wing- and tail-feathers: specifically applied to Colaptes mexicanus, the red-shafted woodpecker or Mexican flicker, related to the common flicker or yellow-shafted woodpecker. It abounds in western North America.
Etymologies
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Examples
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The columbine had eight inches of new growth in January, and two summers ago found a red-shafted flicker lying in the alley behind my house with grass in its throat and wasps crawling in and out of its mouth.
Findings David 2008
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Some of the more common birds are the northern pygmy-owl, olive warbler, red-faced warbler, hepatic tanager, mountain bluebird, pygmy nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, Mexican junco, Steller's jay, red-shafted flicker and the Rocky Mountain sapsucker.
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As he smoked, a red-shafted flicker hammered away at the top of a barren hemlock.
Flicker 2009
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The most abundant resident birds are the bushtit, pinyon jay, plain titmouse, black-chinned hummingbird, Woodhouse's jay, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, red-shafted flicker, and rock wren.
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But then I realize that out West the flickers are red-shafted.
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Wedaju conducted me to one of the lesser buildings where a dignified old file in red-bordered shama and turban, sporting a fine white beard and bearing a red-shafted spear of office, ran a cold eye over me; they conversed in Galla, and at last the chamberlain, as I took him to be, made a stately departure, and Wedaju held out his hand and demanded my Joslyn.
Flashman on the March Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 2005
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Gawaine's hands were shaking as he fit another arrow to the string, but before he could loose it, Cedric bellowed, "Down there, you lads!" and his own red-shafted bolt came streaking across the clearing.
Fortress Of Frost And Fire Lackey, Mercedes 1993
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Gawaine's hands were shaking as he fit another arrow to the string, but before he could loose it, Cedric bel - lowed, "Down there, you lads!" and his own red-shafted bolt came streaking across the clearing.
Fortress Of Frost And Fire Lackey, Mercedes 1993
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On each side of the head are five feathers of the red-shafted flicker.
Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest Katharine Berry [Editor] Judson
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Flicker (Coleptes caffer collaris) — Feathers of the red-shafted flicker.
Tseh So, a Small House Ruin, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico : 1937
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