Common Flameback - BirdForum Opus

Dinopium javanense

Photo by Dr Manjeet Singh
Location: Kuala Selangor Nature Park

Also known as: Common Goldenback

Identification

Size - 30cm (12in) Golden mantle and wings, red lower back and rump, white face with two black malar strips and largely black hindneck with white sides of neck together with whitish underparts marked with blackish scales, distinctive. Throat and face tinged rufous or buff. Has three toes. IRIS BROWN

Male - Crown and pointed crest red (in picture). Female - Crown and crest black with whitish spots from forehead to the tip of the crest.

NOTE - Difficult to separate from Greater Flameback (Goldenback) from lateral view, especially at a distance. Best separated by colour of IRIS and hindneck pattern.

Habitat

Mangroves, forest edges, peat swamp forests, coastal scrub and plantations.

Behaviour

Usually seen in pairs, largely on tree trunks and stems probing soft bark for insects and grubs. Very social, regularly call out to each other. Voice: a sharp churrrr and klek-klek in flight

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