Common Birds of Western Himalayas 



THE DICJEWJE OR FLOWER-PECKER 

 FAMILY 



The fire-breasted flower-pecker (Dictzum 

 ignipectus) is perhaps the smallest bird in India. 

 Its total length does not exceed 3 inches. 

 The upper parts are greenish black and the 

 lower parts buff. The cock has a large patch 

 of crimson on his breast, with a black patch 

 lower down. As this species frequents lofty 

 trees, it is usually seen from below, and the 

 crimson breast renders the cock unmistakeable. 



THE PICID.E OR WOODPECKER FAMILY 



Woodpeckers abound in the well-wooded 

 Himalayas. 



The woodpecker most commonly seen in the 

 western hill stations is the brown-fronted pied 

 species (Dendrocopus auric eps). This is a black 

 bird, spotted and barred with white : some 

 might call it a white bird, heavily spotted and 

 barred with black. The forehead is amber 

 brown. That is the distinguishing feature of 

 this species. The cock has a red-and-gold 

 crest, which the hen lacks. Both sexes rejoice 

 in a crimson patch under the tail — a feature 



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