Crimson-naped Woodpecker
Dryobates cathpharius
Fairly small, stout black-and-white woodpecker with buffy underparts. Male is brightly marked with the namesake crimson nape, and a dull orange vent. Also has a bright red, but inconspicuous patch on the chest. Females are duller, but sometimes have a paler orange neck and breast patch. Similar in coloration to Darjeeling and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, but Crimson-breasted is noticeably smaller and stouter. Inhabits mid- to high-altitude broadleaf forests. Gives a loud “chik!”, as well as a descending rattle.
Identification
The mantle, back and wings are black, with some white spotting and light barring on the wings and one larger white patch. The upper side of the tail is black with white barring on the outer feathers, and the underside is barred in black and white. The chin and throat are white, the central breast is red and the rest of the breast and belly are white or buff streaked with black, with a varying amount of red or pink near the vent. The forehead is white and the crown black, and the male has a red patch on the nape. A black streak extends from the malar region to the nape before continuing to the sides of the chest.
Taxonomy
The taxonomy of this species is somewhat confused. D. cathpharius is sometimes included with Dendrocopos pernyii as a single species, but the two have various amounts of red on head and breast and other distinguishing features, including size. In their Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive, del Hoyo, J. et al. recognises them as separate species. Molecular analysis puts both close to D. minor and D. pubescens. There are three subspecies; D. c. cathpharius from western and central Nepal to Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India; D. c. ludlowi from southeastern Tibet; and D. c. pyrrhothorax from Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and western Myanmar.
- Scientific name
- Dryobates cathpharius
- Authority
- (Blyth, 1843)
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Picidae
- Genus
- Dryobates
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-wedged Piculet
Picumnus albosquamatus
Tiny woodpecker occurring in dense savanna and dry forests. The back is olive-brown, spotted white in some regions, and the breast is white with dense black scales or spots depending on region. The crown is black with white spots; males have a red forehead, black in females. The song is high-pitched trill.
Gray Flycatcher
Empidonax wrightii
Drab, pale-gray flycatcher with little plumage contrast; very similar to other flycatchers, especially Dusky and Hammond's. Often best identified by unique habit of wagging tail downward. Breeding habitat also distinctive: lower, more open habitat than other flycatchers, usually in sagebrush or open juniper forest. In migration and winter, habitat overlaps more with other flycatchers, but still tends to prefer more open areas. Other subtle differences in appearance include shorter wingtips, longer bill, and paler plumage. Song includes hoarse "chivik" phrase and higher, clearer "pseeoo." Call similar to Dusky. Without an excellent view, sometimes best left unidentified.
Green-headed Sunbird
Cyanomitra verticalis
Medium-sized sunbird in which males have an iridescent green head and breast, and females a green helmet. Depending on the light, these green areas can sometimes look blue. The pale yellow shoulder tufts are usually hidden. Found at low and middle elevations in lush woodland, gardens, and forest. Often in pairs, and sometimes in mixed-species flocks. Vocalizations include mewing and scolding calls, and a song that starts with hesitant notes but then breaks into a long trill. Male similar to male Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, but paler overall, with a larger area of iridescent green rather than blue on the head.
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