Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus Scientific name definitions

The Greater Flameback is a large, colorful, crested woodpecker found from Himalayan foothills through most of southeast Asia to the Greater Sundas. It inhabits a variety of forest types but is dependent on large trees and snags, where it probes and excavates dead wood to feed on wood-boring insect larvae. Although it is common and widespread, and not considered globally threatened, it may suffer declines in portions of its range subject to heavy deforestation. This species has a complicated taxonomy history, and has at one time or another been considered conspecific with most other species in the genus Chrysocolaptes.