Dinopium shorii
The Himalayan Flameback, *Dinopium shorii*, is a medium-sized woodpecker renowned for its striking, fiery plumage. Measuring approximately 29-31 cm (11-12 inches) in length, its most distinctive feature is the brilliant flame-red or golden-red back and wings, which contrast sharply with its black tail and heavily scaled whitish underparts. Identification is further aided by its intricate head pattern, featuring a white supercilium and malar stripe, a black moustache stripe, and a white throat...
Found primarily in tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, deciduous forests, and sal woodlands. It inhabits areas from lowlands up to elevations of about 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).
Mainly feeds on wood-boring beetle larvae, ants, and termites extracted from trees. It also supplements its diet with berries and occasionally tree sap.
The Himalayan Flameback is a diurnal species, spending its active hours methodically foraging on tree trunks and larger branches. It employs classic woodpecker foraging techniques, including vigorous drilling, scaling bark, and probing crevices for hidden insects, often spiraling upwards as it wo...
The Himalayan Flameback is a resident species, primarily distributed across the Himalayan foothills and adjacent lowlands of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its breeding and year-round range extends from northern India, encompassing states like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West ...
Least Concern
- The 'flame' in its name directly refers to the male's brilliant scarlet crest and the species' fiery-red back. - Like all woodpeckers, it possesses a specially adapted skull and powerful neck muscles to absorb the shock of repeated drilling. - Its long, barbed tongue can extend significantly be...