Rare sighting of woodpecker thrills bird-watchers

KARACHI:

A black-rumped flameback woodpecker was sighted on a tall tree near Jinnah Terminal, thrilling bird-watchers in the metropolitan city.

Though it is uncommon to find this bird species in urban areas, it is widely found in the plains of the country. The woodpecker, with its striking long beak, vibrant colours, and distinctive red crest, was an unusual and fascinating sight.

Locally known as "lakkarhara" or "woodcutter," the black-rumped flameback is typically found in rural areas, but its sighting near a bustling airport captured the attention of passersby. People quickly took out their mobile phones to film the rare bird, perched atop an ancient tree along the road leading from the airport to Sharae Faisal.

According to Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Adviser at WWF Pakistan, this woodpecker species, while rare in urban environments, is widely found the Indian subcontinent. It thrives in open woodlands, farmlands, and even city parks, particularly where insect populations are plentiful-the bird's primary food source.

Khan added that in Sindh, especially along canal banks and in gardens, sightings of these woodpeckers are more common. The species is found not only in Pakistan but also in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, predominantly south of the Himalayas. However, in the arid regions of India's Rajasthan, sightings are rarer.