Common Birds of Western Himalayas 



THE DIC^ID^ OR FLOWER-PECKER 

 FAMILY 



The fire-breasted flower-pecker {Diceeum 

 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^ 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 {Dendrocofus auricefs). 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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