Buff-spotted Flameback

The buff-spotted flameback (''Chrysocolaptes lucidus'') is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found on the Philippine islands of Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Panaon, Mindanao, Basilan, and Samal. Along with the other Philippine species, Yellow-faced flameback, Luzon flameback, Red-headed flameback, it was formerly conspecific greater flameback

Description

EBird describes the bird as "A large woodpecker of forest with a dense understory from the lowlands to the lower mountains in the southern Philippines. Orange to reddish on the back, and dark below with heavy cream-colored spotting. Neck is spotted with buff. Note the crown sloping to an angular crest, which is bright red in males and orange with spots in the female. Unmistakable. The only other similarly sized woodpecker in range is Southern Sooty-Woodpecker, which is entirely dark. Voice includes a loud, metallic rattling trill."

Taxonomy

This species is part of the Greater flameback species complex which has now been split into 8 distinct species. This species differs from its most closely related Luzon flameback as females have dirty crowns in females, a heavily spotted throat and belly.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized:

* ''C.l. lucidus'' – Found on Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan; Red back
* ''C.l. montanus'' –Found on Samal island and Mindanao except Zamboanga Peninsula; Pale gold back and slightly smaller
* ''C.l. rufopunctatus'' – Found on Bohol, Leyte and Samar; Red face and darker red back

Ecology and behavior

Pressumably feeds on insects and wood boring larvae. Typically seen in pairs or family parties and may sometimes associate with White-bellied woodpecker and Southern sooty woodpecker.

Buff-spotted flamebacks, like other woodpeckers, drum—meaning rapidly tap their beak against objects such as dead trees—to attract mates. This species has one of the longest drums, averaging about 51 beats per drum.

Nests in tree cavities. Breeding is believed to occur from January to May. The very similar Greater flameback lays 2 to 5 eggs which incubate in 2 weeks and fledge within a month.

Habitat and conservation status

It is found in tropical moist lowland forest with dense understory up to 1,500 meters above sea level

IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species but the population is decreasing. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging, agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range. The most affected part of its range is Bohol which only has 4% forest cover remaining.

Occurs in a few protected areas like Pasonanca Natural Park, Mount Apo and Mount Kitanglad on Mindanao, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape in Bohol and Samar Island Natural Park but actual protection and enforcement from illegal logging and hunting are lax

References

*Collar, N.J. 2011. Species limits in some Philippine birds including the Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus. Forktail number 27: 29–38.
*

buff-spotted flameback
Endemic birds of the Philippines
Fauna of Bohol
Fauna of Leyte
Fauna of Samar
Fauna of Biliran
Fauna of Mindanao
Fauna of Basilan
buff-spotted flameback

{{woodpecker-stub