Lesser Golden Back Woodpecker

I started to want to know more about this interesting looking bird, after I had seen the Woodpecker at various agricultural farms around Tiruvannamalai.

The Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker or Black-rumped Flameback is a Woodpecker commonly found in Tiruvannamalai District and although mainly frequenting agricultural areas, it can also be seen in wooded urban areas.

Such a Long Way to Climb

This bird is large around 26–29 cm in length. Its rump is black with white underparts and dark chevron markings. The adult male Black-rumped Flameback has a red crown and crest. Females have a black forecrown spotted with white, with red only on the rear crest. Young birds are like the female, but duller.

Woodpecker Preening

Its call is like a loud, harsh, chattering laugh uttered mostly when flying. As is common with woodpeckers, this species dips in flight.

My Friend's Tiruvannamalai Farm

Playtime with Friends

This bird has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks and four-toed feet for traction on trees, with two toes pointing forward, and two backwards. It has a long tongue which it darts forward to catch insects.

Catching Insects: Notice the Four-Toes

This Woodpecker flies from tree to tree, finding food, starting from the bottom of the tree to the top. The bird works up on the stems of old trees, tapping them to find rotten and hollow wood and then drilling holes to ferret out insects hiding within. This bird also feeds on ripe fruits and sometimes flower nectar. The species is normally seen in pairs or small parties and sometimes joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

Checking out a Nest

Breeding season is between March and August. A nest is usually excavated in a tree with a horizontal entrance descending into a cavity. Sometimes the Woodpecker takes over the nests of other birds. The normal number of a clutch is three glossy china-white eggs which hatch after about 11 days with both parents sharing domestic duties. The chicks generally leave their nest after about 20 days.

Safe and Resting

For more photos and videos go to this link here.