Alternative names: Greater Goldenback; Greater Flame-backed Woodpecker
- Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus
Identification
Size-33cm
Male: Red Crest
Female : Black Crest with white spots.
Similar Species
From Common Flameback by large size, largely white hindneck with black sides of neck, yellow iris, longer and more robust bill and thin black malar stripes separated by small white patch. Crest more shaggy and less pointed.
Distribution
Indian subcontinent through southeast Asia to Sumatra, parts of Java and Borneo.
Taxonomy
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Sat Tal Forest, Alt. 5500 ft., Nainital, Uttarakhand Himalayas, India, 19 April 2018
Luzon Flameback, Yellow-faced Flameback, Red-headed Flameback, Javan Flameback, Buff-spotted Flameback (keeping the old scientific name lucidus) and Crimson-backed Flameback were formerly included in this species.
Subspecies
Four subspecies recognized[1]:
- C. g. guttacristatus in the Himalayas, southeast India to southern China, Thailand and Indochina
- C. g. socialis in southwest India
- C. g. indomalayicus in peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and west and central Java
- C. g. andrewsi in northeast Borneo
Habitat
Forests.
Behaviour
Frequents the canopy and middle story. Usualy in small noisy groups up to ten, even at nest. Sometimes solitary.
Vocalisation
A distinct series of sharp notes, di-di-di-di-di-di-.. reminiscent of large cicada.
Flight call similar to to Common Flameback.
<flashmp3>greater_flameback_call_alok.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Recording by Alok Tewari
Sat Tal, Alt 5500 ft., Uttarakhand Himalayas, India, April-2017
Inflight call in late evening. There is initial, brief overlap call by a Great Barbet.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Greater Flameback. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 December 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Greater_Flameback
External Links
