On July 7, 2024, a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) was observed using a stick as a tool for preening in South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA. The observed behavior represents the first case of a species in the order Piciformes using an inanimate object for physical maintenance and documents a rare form of true tool use among birds. Hot and dry conditions may have motivated the individual to seek a tool for more effective preening. Members of the order Piciformes rarely engage in true tool use, despite their relatively large brain size. Further research on the order Piciformes and the evolutionary drivers behind tool use will provide insight into the significance of this type of tool use behavior.