Himalayan Flameback
Dinopium shorii
A large woodpecker with a brilliant orange back, a black stripe through the eye and cheek, and black on the back of the neck. Inhabits mature lowland forest. It looks for invertebrates in trees, meticulously working its way up from the base of the trunk. Not shy; often mixes with other species, especially babblers and laughingthrushes. Very similar to Common Flameback, but the Himalayan Flameback has a longer bill and the cheek stripe splits into two near the bill. The call is a tinny, nasal series of notes similar to those of other flamebacks.
Identification
The Himalayan flameback is very similar in appearance to the Greater Goldenback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus) but they are not at all closely related. The primary differences are its smaller size and bill. The Himalayan flameback can be identified by its black hind neck, and the brownish center on its throat, which can go down the breast on some and is bordered by an irregular black spotting. They also have an indistinct divided moustachial stripe, the center of which is brownish, and sometimes reddish in males. The Himalayan flameback also has either reddish or brown eyes and three toes. The breast of the Himalayan flameback is irregularly streaked with black, but on occasion completely white. Their wings are coppery brown to red. Lastly, the males have a yellowish-red forehead that becomes more red on the crest. In contrast, the female's crest is entirely black and streaked with white. In both sexes, the crest is bordered by white and black bands on either side of their head.
Taxonomy
Part of the family Picidae and the genus Dinopium, which consists of woodpeckers with only three toes, the Himalayan flameback forms a superspecies together with the Common flameback. There are also two recognized sub-species within the Himalayan flameback: D.s. shorii and D.s. anguste. The sister species of the Himalayan flameback are Meiglyptes tristis and Celeus brachyurus. The species epithet honors Frederick John Shore, an East India Company official who sent a specimen of the bird to the Zoological Society of London, where it was described and named by Vigors.
- Scientific name
- Dinopium shorii
- Authority
- (Vigors, 1831)
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Picidae
- Genus
- Dinopium
Range and habitat
Himalayan flamebacks are commonly found in the Indian subcontinent, primarily in the lower-to-middle altitudes of the Himalayan sal forest region. Its range spans Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, and Nepal, where they are year-round residents. A disjunct population also occurs in the south-eastern Ghats. The Himalayan flameback's habitat mainly comprises mature tropical/subtropical deciduous forests as well as semi-evergreen forests. They prefer lowland Ficus and Bombax forests.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Himalayan flameback call is a series of rapidly repeated klak-klak-klak-klak-klak. The call is slower and softer than that of the Greater Goldenback.<p>The diet of Himalayan flamebacks is poorly known. They mainly flock and feed together with other birds such as the Greater Goldenback. It is assumed that their primary prey is insects: the same as many other woodpecker species.<p>Very little is known of their breeding habits. What is known is that they breed from March to May and nest in excavated holes in trees. Their clutch size is 2–3 eggs.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Blue Nuthatch
Sitta azurea
Not the only blue nuthatch, but the bluest nuthatch. Unmistakable, with a dark head, pale eyering, white throat and breast, and dark-lined pale blue feathers on the wings. Gives quick, sharp, nasal “tzwp” or “tzwit” notes. Clambers up and down tree trunks, often in small parties; frequent member of mixed-species foraging flocks. Favors montane and hilly forests.
Hairy-crested Antbird
Rhegmatorhina melanosticta
Striking ant-following antbird. Chestnut brown, with a black face, ornate white eyering, and white or reddish-brown bushy crest. Usually forages in pairs or family groups around army ant swarms in mature rainforest; listen for its loud snarling calls to key in to these army ant swarms. Its song is a decelerating-accelerating series of high, wheezy whistles.
Cream-colored Woodpecker
Celeus flavus
Distinctive yellow woodpecker of lowland Amazonia. Bright creamy yellow overall with short creamy crest, brown wings and tail, and yellow bill; male has red moustache Usually found in seasonally flooded and swampy forested areas, but can be found outside those habitats occasionally in other forested areas. Listen for a loud, descending series of whistles: “PEE-pee-pee-peer.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.