Crimson-backed Flameback Chrysocolaptes stricklandi Scientific name definitions

29–30 cm. Distinctive woodpecker. Male  has crown and crest  deep red, rest of head black except for very thin white supercilium  (often appearing as a line of small spots), white spots on nape, white moustachial and malar stripes enclosing narrow black submoustachial; upperparts, including upperwing-coverts  , entirely dark red (crimson), brightest on rump; flight-feathers browner, primaries with white spots; tail blackish; throat white with narrow black central gular line; underparts whitish with heavy dark brown scale-like markings, becoming more buffy and less patterned on belly; long, slightly chisel-tipped bill straight, broad across nostrils, pale yellowish-cream; iris very pale yellow to whitish, orbital ring dark purplish; legs grey. Female  differs from male in having entire head (excluding chin and throat) black, with white spots on crest and white spots forming postocular supercilium. Juvenile is duller overall, with longer, more shaggy crest.

Until recently, considered a subspecies in the C. lucidus group of taxa (C. guttacristatus, C. stricklandi, C. strictus, C. erythrocephalus, C. haematribon, C. lucidus and C. xanthocephalus). Differs from C. guttacristatus in having crimson vs golden upperparts (3), yellow vs black bill (3), much weaker postocular superciliary stripe (reduced to spots) (2), and weaker supramoustachial line (ns[1]) (1 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volumes 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close , 2 Collar, N.J. (2011). Species limits in some Philippine birds including the Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus. Forktail. 27: 29–38. Close ). Monotypic.

Sri Lanka.

Diet includes invertebrates  such as beetles and ants; probably also some plant material. Forages mainly on large trees and snags, including somewhat isolated ones in the open; sometimes drops to ground. In pairs and in family parties; often in mixed flocks with Dinopium psarodes.

Common call a very rapid, high-pitched trilled “kiriririri”, much faster than that of C. guttacristatus, sometimes with more trumpeting quality, given both on the wing and when perched; also a whinnying call, “tree tree tree”; single squeaky “keek” occasionally uttered. Both sexes drum very loudly, each roll very rapid (c. 20 strikes per second) and at even tempo, rising a little before fading out, duration c. 2·5–4 seconds.

Season Oct–Mar, sometimes also Aug–Sept. Nest-hole  excavated by both sexes, at up to c. 20 m above ground in tree; entrance a vertical oval. Clutch 2 eggs. No other information available.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Locally not uncommon. Fairly common in many areas and reasonably widespread throughout the island. Appears to be suffering slow decline as a result of habitat loss.