What specific foraging preference explains why the Northern Flicker often utilizes open woodlands?

They spend more time foraging on the ground for ants compared to many of their relatives

The Northern Flicker exhibits a unique ecological niche among many North American woodpeckers because its diet and foraging strategy diverge from the typical bark-probing behavior. While most woodpeckers concentrate their search for insects directly within the bark or deep within the wood of trees, the Flicker shifts its primary foraging activity to the ground level. Their diet often leans heavily on ground-dwelling insects, specifically ants. Consequently, areas that offer wide, open ground access—such as open woodlands, park settings, or areas with fewer dense trees—become more advantageous locations for them to successfully locate and consume their preferred prey compared to dense forests where ground access is limited by thick undergrowth.