Luzon Flameback Chrysocolaptes haematribon Scientific name definitions

c. 28–32 cm; 110–145 g. Male  has dull red crown  and crest bordered below by thin black line, long whitish supercilium broken by black spotting, moustachial and malar regions buffy yellow and separated by one or two black stripes, ear-coverts and neck side  black or blackish; hindneck and upper mantle black, rest of upperparts  , including upperwing-coverts , red (often with olive tinge); flight-feathers rufous to dark brown with crimson edges, white spots on inner webs, tail dark brown; throat to breast buffish with profuse black feather edges and tips, belly to vent buffish with obscure grey-brown barring; long bill slightly chisel-tipped, straight, broad across nostrils, dark grey or blackish; iris warm dark brown, orbital ring lighter brown; legs greyish. Female  differs from male in having darker head , with black crown and crest heavily spotted white  . Juvenile is duller than adult, male with only hints of red in 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 geographically adjacent and morphologically closest relative, C. lucidus (sensu stricto; see that species), in having black vs dirty yellow ground colour of female’s head (3); blackish ear-coverts and rear neck sides (2); no extensive broad buff spotting on underparts but, instead, more densely spotted with smaller spots on throat (2), cutting rapidly to a very weakly marked dirty yellowish-tinged buff from mid-breast to vent with obsolete soft-edged scaling or barring (ns[1]); and slightly more crimson (less scarlet) crown (male) and upperparts (ns[1]) (1 Collar, N.J. (2011). Species limits in some Philippine birds including the Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus. Forktail. 27: 29–38. Close ). Proposed race grandis (Polillo) considered too poorly differentiated to warrant recognition; described forms montium (N Luzon) and ramosi (S Luzon) likewise invalid. Monotypic.

N Philippines: Luzon, Polillo, Marinduque and Catanduanes.

Primary forest, secondary forest, plantations; requires presence of at least some large trees . Lowlands to 1000 m, locally to 1500 m or more.

Few data. Presumably feeds on small invertebrates such as ants and beetles. Often in pairs.

Emits rapid staccato  series of notes, “di-di-di-di”, similar to calls of congeners. Details of drumming not available.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Not uncommon to locally fairly common. Global population not yet quantified. Believed to be declining in numbers as a result of continuing habitat destruction throughout most of its range. This species should probably be monitored.