Common flameback


The common flameback or common goldenback is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The spot-throated flameback is sometimes considered a subspecies.

Description and ecology

This species measures 28-32 cm in length. It usually weighs about 67-100 grams.
It has a flaming golden back and long, solid black moustachial stripes. Both sexes have black eyestripes joined to black rear neck stripe. Male has red crown, female has black crown. Black-scaled white underparts and red rump contrasting with black tail. Rather small bill, and only three toes on each foot. The greater flameback looks quite similar.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest.

Subspecies

The common flameback has six subspecies. They are as follows:
D. j. javanense
D. j. malabaricum
D. j. intermedium
D. j. borneonense
D. j. raveni
D. j. exsul