Moustached Barbet

Overview

The moustached barbet (Psilopogon incognitus) is an Asian barbet characterised by a heavy bill fringed with bristles. It is a resident breeder found in the hills of Southeast Asia and is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• 23 cm in length with a plump body, short neck, large head, and short tail.
• Body plumage is predominantly green, with a dark horn bill.
• P. i. elbeli subspecies features a red forehead, green crown with a red rear spot, blue face and throat, and black eyestripe and moustache.
• Juveniles have a duller, greener head and throat with a narrower moustache compared to adults.
• Male territorial call is a repeated loud u'ik-a-ruk.

Habitat

This species inhabits broadleaf evergreen forest in the hills of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It typically resides at altitudes between 600 and 700 m and nests in tree holes.

Did you know?

The species derives its common name from the bristles that fringe its heavy bills, a feature shared by barbets globally that gives the group its name.