Red-Backed Flame-back | Dinopium Psarodes | Sri Lanka

Facts About Red-Backed Flameback

Red-Backed Flameback or Lesser Sri Lanka Flameback (Dinopium psarodes) is a species of bird in the Picidae family, which includes the Sri Lanka Red-Backed Woodpecker and the Ceylon Red-Backed Woodpecker. Only in the far north of Sri Lanka, it does not exist. The Black-Rumped Flameback is sometimes considered a subspecies of this bird.

Since Legge’s time, it has been considered an endemic species. It was initially classified as Brachypternus ceylonus in the genus Brachypternus. Dinopium benghalense psarodes was later identified as a subspecies of the Black-rumped flameback (Dinopium benghalense). In a study conducted by Sampath S. Seneviratne, Darren E. Irwin, and Saminda P. Fernando, it was elevated to full species status.

It was discovered to hybridize with the Black-rumped Flameback in this study. The hybridization is concentrated north of a border stretching from Trincomalee to the base of Puttalam lagoon and south of a border stretching from Mullaitivu to Mannar. Out of this border, where the Black-rumped Flameback dominates north of the border and the Red-backed Flameback dominates south of the border, hybridization is less common. It is a case of hybrid inferiority, in which the pure species outperform the hybrids.

It is one of three red-colored Flameback species found only in Sri Lanka and the Philippines. It is also the only Dinopium species that is red. The Crimson-backed Flameback (Chrysocolaptes stricklandi) of Sri Lanka and the Luzon Flameback (Chrysocolaptes haematribon) of the Philippines is the other Red Flamebacks. (With the exception of the Yellow-faced Flameback (Chrysocolaptes xanthocephalus), which is primarily yellow.) This analogous trait (a trait shared by two organisms due to convergent evolution, which means they evolved to be similar independently due to similar evolutionary pressures) suggests that some evolutionary pressure caused the endemic Flamebacks in Sri Lanka and the Philippines to turn red. There are no recognized subspecies.

Description

The length is approximately 28 centimeters (11 in). The wings are mostly crimson with black trailing edges. White underparts with splotches of black. The breast and neck are black, with white spots and streaks on the throat and breast. With white streaks between the eye and the neck, a black eyestripe stretches to the back of the neck and diffuses into the nape and upper back. Females have a red crown with a black forecrown and forehead speckled with white. The eye is obscured by the black eyestripe. It has a medium-sized grey bill that ends in a blunt point. Juveniles are duller and have fewer prominent markings, with males having white spots on their crowns and females having few, if any, spots. Hybrids can be mostly red with some orange or yellow (similar to the Red-backed Flameback) or mostly yellow with some red or orange (closer to Black-rumped Flameback)

Habitat

Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical dry forests, moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, as well as man-made environments such as home gardens. It can be seen from a distance of 1,500 meters (4,900 feet). Mostly found in the dry zone, but prefers humid conditions.

Behaviour and Ecology

Voice and Sounds

It has a shrill whinny voice that is more unmusical and screaming than that of D. Benghalense, and it is more aggressive. In addition to a rhythmic “woik-woik-tri trrrrrrr!” it can also be heard repeatedly saying “woik-tri-tri-tri-tri-tri-tri-tri-!” for a total of three seconds or a repeated “woik-woik-tri-tri-tri-tri-tri-tri-!” for a total of three seconds. It has a boring drumroll that lasts between 0.8 and 1.5 seconds.

Dieting & Foraging

Diet

Ants are the primary source of nutrition for this creature. Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp. ), ants of the genus Meranoplus, and the pupae and larvae of Asian weaver ants are among the insects that it appears to like (Oecophylla smaragdina). Spiders, caterpillars, weevils, and beetles are among the other invertebrates that are consumed. Occasionally consumes some fruit, which is a source of dietary fiber as well as other nutrients.

Foraging Behaviour

It climbs trees by using its tail as a support, and it flies in an abounding pattern that consists of flaps and glides. However, it drops to the ground in order to gain access to nests of ground ants, which are found in the leaves of the trees they are attacking. Forages on its own, in pairs, or as a family group, and frequently joins multi-species foraging flocks, as do other Dinopium Flamebacks, to supplement their diet.

Breeding

It drills nest holes at a variety of different heights. These holes, which can only be constructed by woodpeckers, barbets, and other Piciformes, serve as nesting places for other cavity-nesting birds such as parrots, which are unable to construct their own nesting cavities on their own. Although the hen may brood twice in a season, just one clutch of eggs is deposited on average. It breeds from December to September, with the majority of the breeding taking place between August and September and between February and June. In a typical clutch, two to three eggs are deposited.

Conservation

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is of least concern since it has a stable but unknown population and is widespread to regionally common throughout its relatively restricted range. There have been no indications of a decline or of a threat. It is extremely common in Sri Lanka and is considered to be one of the “Common” endemics, along with the Sri Lankan junglefowl, Sri Lanka hanging parrot, and the Crimson-fronted barbet. The woodpecker species known as the Sri Lankan woodpecker is the most common in the country.