Greater Flameback

The Greater Flameback is a large, vividly colored woodpecker found in forest, forest edge, mangroves, and plantations across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its striking golden-yellow to deep orange back, from which its name derives, contrasts sharply with black-and-white patterned underparts and a bold facial pattern, making it one of the more visually distinctive woodpeckers in its range.

Males additionally sport a full red crest, adding to the species' colorful overall appearance.

Key features:

• Back and wing covert feathers are bright golden-yellow to deep orange, the 'flame' coloring for which the species is named
• These golden back feathers contrast with black flight feathers and white-spotted black underparts
• Males show a full red crest and crown; females have a black crest and crown finely spotted with white
• Bold black-and-white streaked face pattern with a white supercilium (eyebrow stripe) and malar stripe

Compared to similar species: the bright golden to orange back feathers are highly distinctive and readily separate this species from other Asian woodpeckers, most of which lack such vivid warm-toned back plumage.

Males show a solid red crest and crown, while females have a black crest and crown finely spotted with white. Juveniles are duller overall, with less vivid golden tones on the back. A complete molt occurs annually.

This species occurs in forest, forest edge, mangroves, and plantations across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is a non-migratory resident throughout its range and can tolerate a range of forested and semi-open habitats.

Greater Flamebacks forage on trunks and large branches for wood-boring insects and ants, using their strong bill and feet (with four toes, unlike some other woodpecker genera) for climbing and excavating. Their calls are loud, and they drum actively to signal territory. Nest cavities are excavated in dead or living trees within their forested or semi-open habitat.