Greater Yellownape Chrysophlegma flavinucha Scientific name definitions

c. 32–35 cm; 153–198 g. Male has olive-green forehead and crown, feathers tipped rufous-brown when fresh, tips of elongated hindcrown feathers and nape bright golden-yellow, this colour continuing down hindneck; dark olive-green lores and ear-coverts, blacker rear neck side; bright yellow chin and throat , lower throat feathers blackish with white edges; bright yellowish-green upperparts , tertials sometimes with rufous barring on inner webs; primaries and secondaries dark green, outer primaries blackish-brown, all broadly barred rufous on both webs; uppertail blackish; upper breast olive-black, rest of underparts greenish-grey; underwing brownish, barred paler; undertail blackish-brown, outer feathers washed greenish; long bill slightly chisel-tipped, variably curved culmen, fairly broad across nostrils, broad at base, dark grey; iris brownish-red or reddish, orbital ring grey to greenish or blue-grey; legs green-grey or grey. Female is less bulky, shorter-billed than male, yellow of chin and throat replaced by rufous-brown. Juvenile duller than adult, crest less golden, greyer below, eyes brown, male with buff-yellow throat occasionally spotted dark, rufous colour in malar, sometimes some red feather tips in crown, female as adult but less rufous on throat. Other races differ from nominate in being darker green above, males with much-reduced yellow on throat: styani has crest pale yellow, reddish bars extend to wingtips; ricketti is slightly longer-winged and darker-billed than previous, reddish primary bars more extensive; pierrei is slightly yellower above than previous races, with less extensive barring on primaries; mystacalis has breast more extensively dark green, barring on wing reduced, lacks black and white markings on lower throat; korinchi resembles previous, but darker green above, paler on belly, wing barring duller and browner; <em>wrayi</em> is rather small and dark, male has pale yellow malar.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Various types of forest , open evergreen and deciduous forests with tall trees, oak (Quercus) and sal (Shorea) forests, mixed forest, pine (Pinus) forest, and secondary growth; sometimes near edges or on single dead trees in clearings. Retreats to forest patches in cultivated areas. Lowlands and at higher elevations; to 2750 m in SE Asia and India; most common at 300–1500 m in Nepal; above 900 m and to 2000 m in Peninsular Malaysia; above 800 m in Sumatra.

Resident.

Animal food mainly ants and termites (Isoptera), and large insect larvae , particularly of wood-boring beetles (Cerambycidae); unusual items include centipedes (Chilopoda) and frogs, and may take nestlings of other hole-nesting species. Berries and seeds also taken. Shy and restless, occurs in pairs and in family groups of 4 to 5; commonly with various species of drongo (Dicrurus), babbler (Timaliidae) or bulbul (Pycnonotidae). Prefers to forage on trunks and branches of small to large trees, but exploits all levels of forest; seldom, if ever, visits ground. Moves rapidly on smaller branches, and perches crosswise. All foraging techniques directed to the surface; gleaning, reaching, sweeping away debris, and probing, are common; excavating, or even single pecks, rare.

Mar–Jun in Indian Subcontinent, from Feb in SE Asia, and Apr–May in Sumatra. Crest-raising, in intense display combined with head-lifting with bill upwards. Nest-hole excavated by both sexes, at 2–6 m, rarely to 15 m, in tree; cavity depth c. 20 cm. Clutch 2–4 eggs; incubation by both parents, both also share brood-feeding; incubation and fledging periods apparently not documented; fledglings accompanied by parents for a while.

Not globally threatened. Common or fairly common throughout its range; common in SE Asia; rare in China. Occurs in many protected areas, e.g. Chitwan National Park (Nepal), Khao Yai National Park (Thailand) and Kerinci-Seblat National Park (Sumatra). No known threats.