Greater Flameback

Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus

Malay name: Belatuk-Pinang Besar Biasa · Chinese name: 大金背啄木鸟

Family: Woodpeckers · Status: Very rare visitor · Size: 30–34 cm · Conservation: Not Evaluated

Range

Resident from northeast India and southwest China through Indochina, the Malay Peninsula and western Sumatra. Also found at scattered coastal sites in Sabah.

Identification

Both sexes distinguished from the extremely similar Common Flameback by pale instead of dark iris, less white on face, more pointed crest, bulkier body, and white central hindneck.

Habitat

In Peninsular Malaysia, the local subspecies indomalayicus is primarily confined to mangroves. Through the rest of its range, also found in forest and forest edge.