Three-toed, small-billed, golden-backed woodpecker found primarily in wet tropical forests in two disjunct regions, the Western Ghats in India and Southeast Asia. Separated from Greater Flameback by a much smaller bill, a black nape, and a black undivided horizontal stripe below the cheek. Separated from Black-rumped Flameback by a red rump and a white throat. This species is a regular participant in mixed-species foraging flocks, often detected by its loud, high-pitched trill similar to that of Greater Flameback. Best told from the nearly identical Himalayan Flameback by voice.