The Hybrid Black-rumped Flameback - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

The Hybrid Black-rumped Flameback - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

I had been hoping to photograph the hybrid species of the black-rumped Flameback for a couple of years but didn't get a chance to do so until recently. The closest I came to photographing it before our recent trip to Sri Lanka was in Anuradhapura in 2009. The bird visited the garden while I was away photographing butterflies!

More images inside.

 The Hybrid Black-rumped Flameback - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

The subspecies of Flameback found in the southern part of Sri Lanka (Dinopium benghalense psarodes) has a crimson back and the dark markings are blacker in colour and are more extensive. The subspecies found in the north of Sri Lanka (jaffnense) has a golden back and a shorter beak.

The Hybrid Black-rumped Flameback - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

The species "hybradises" in Puttalam, Kekirawa, Trincomalee and Anuradhapura. I came across a pair of Flamebacks near Abhayagiriya and found that one of them was actually a hybrid (See the 3 photographs above). Fortunately I had my camera gear with me and was able to take a number of photographs of the pair.

The Hybrid Black-rumped Flameback - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

I'm not sure whether the second bird, photograph above, was actually a hybrid. The variation in colour was a lot more subtle but I thought there was a variation. I visited the same area again the following day hoping to shoot a few more frames of the pair but they did not make an appearance. 

Next on the list of shots would be to photograph the Northern Sri Lankan species as well as better shots of the hybrid.

All the photographs on this post were taken with the 7D and the 100-400mm lens.

• Black-rumped Flameback part 1

• Black-rumped Flameback part 2

 

Black-rumped Flameback - Part 2

A Black-rumped Flameback photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Out of all the birds found in Sri Lanka, the Black-rumped Flameback is one of the most striking in terms of colour.  It's bright red back makes it relatively easy to identify. However it can be mistaken with the Greater Flameback. More info on this species can be found in one of my previous posts at http://devwijewardane.blogspot.com/2009/11/black-rumped-flameback.html

We are fortunate to have a pair of these birds visit our garden on a very frequent basis. These images were all captured at home.

More images inside.

A Black-rumped Flameback photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka

A Black-rumped Flameback photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka

A Black-rumped Flameback photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka

A pair of Black-rumped Flamebacks photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka

• Black-rumped Flameback part 1
• Black-rumped Flameback part 2

Black-rumped Flameback

 A Black-rumped Flameback photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka

More images of this woodpecker can be found at http://devwijewardane.blogspot.com/2010/05/black-rumped-flameback-part-2.html

Out of all the birds found in Sri Lanka, the Black-rumped Flameback is one of my favorites. It is also one of the most familiar birds found on the island. More details inside.

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The Black-rumped flameback (also known as the red backed woodpecker) is an unobtrusive bird which frequents residential areas. However, its call, which rises and then falls in pitch and accelerates, may give away its presence. The red back and the black and white head and neck are distinctive and can only be confused with the Greater Flameback. The Greater Flameback has an Ivory coloured beak and does not have the two white stripes around the eye. The Black-rumped Flameback has a black throat while the Greater Flameback's throat is white. The Black-rumped Flameback, like all other woodpeckers, has a stiff tail which it uses to support itself against tree trunks. It also has zygodactil feet with two toes pointed forward and two pointed backward. It is a large species measuring in at 26-29cm in length and uses its long tongue to feed on insects.

A pair of Black-rumped Flamebacks frequents our garden in the heart of Colombo. We've had regular visits from these birds for years. The image above was taken from a bed room window at home. I was able to spend around 40 minutes photographing these birds as they hopped along the branches foraging for food just 20 meters away from where I was.

• Black-rumped Flameback part 2
• Black-rumped Flameback part 3