There are six subspecies currently recognized:[7] As shy and secretive birds, common flamebacks are unlikely to be found in urban areas.

Although they generally enjoy lowlands, they can reach altitudes of 1700m above sea level in India and in those cases prefer living in pine forests.

[5][9] Their distribution ranges across Southeast Asia, from the Western Ghats in India to the Indochinese peninsula and several of the Greater Sunda Islands.

This action may be in response to the researcher’s persistent presence near the nest, as the drum timing and low level of aggression does not point to it being a mating display.

[9] As their beak is relatively small, they are more adapted to a gleaning and probing foraging method, which produces no noise by the species.

Their movements are abrupt, as they remain motionless and quiet for long periods of time before lurching and rapidly pecking at passing insects.

If one bird lands near another, they move apart to opposite sides of the tree and display some “peeking” behaviour, as well as some crest raising, which is observed in both sexes.

[9] Other accounts state that there is a short mating display, which consists of crest-raising from both sexes, bowing movements, head swinging, and even males courtship feeding the females.