About the Common Flameback
The common flameback, also referred to as the common goldenback, is a small (28–30 cm), three-toed woodpecker in the family Picidae, found throughout South and Southeast Asia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Males and females differ in the crest colour, as males have a bright red crest while females have a black crest with white streaks. Both sexes have a white supercilium, white cheek stripe, and white throat area, all separated by stripes of black, and they have a spotted black and white underside. The bird is distinguishable from other similar golden-backed woodpeckers, such as the greater flameback (Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus), by its smaller bill and black nape, and from the black-rumped flameback by its red rump and white throat. Voice: The common flameback is a relatively quiet species, who rarely produces noise despite being able to produce many different sounds. Although it belongs to the woodpecker family, it surprisingly rarely drums on wood, as it has a different foraging behaviour.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in China.
When to see it
Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Red-backed FlamebackDinopium psarodesAbout 28 centimetres (11 in) in length.
Himalayan FlamebackDinopium shoriiThe Himalayan flameback is very similar in appearance to the Greater Goldenback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus) but they are not at all closely related.
Spot-throated FlamebackDinopium everettiThe spot-throated flameback is a species of bird in the family Picidae.
Learn the Common Flameback for real
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