It is found on the Philippine islands of Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Panaon, Mindanao, Basilan, and Samal.

Note the crown sloping to an angular crest, which is bright red in males and orange with spots in the female.

[4] Buff-spotted flamebacks, like other woodpeckers, drum—meaning rapidly tap their beak against objects such as dead trees—to attract mates.

The very similar Greater flameback lays 2 to 5 eggs which incubate in 2 weeks and fledge within a month.

[6][4] It is found in tropical moist lowland forest with dense understory up to 1,500 meters above sea level IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species but the population is decreasing.