Malabar Barbet

Overview

The Malabar barbet (Psilopogon malabaricus) is an Asian barbet native to the Western Ghats in India. It was formerly treated as a race of the crimson-fronted barbet but is now recognised as a distinct species.

Identification

• Distinguished from the similar coppersmith barbet by a crimson face and throat.
• Emits calls that are more rapidly delivered than those of the coppersmith barbet.
• In flight, its straight and rapid movement can resemble that of lorikeets.

Habitat

Found in the Western Ghats from around Goa south to southern Kerala, primarily in moist evergreen forest below 1200 m elevation. They also inhabit coffee estates and frequently visit fruiting Ficus species, often joining flocks of green pigeons and mynas.

Diet

Feeds mainly on fruits, with a preference for Ficus species such as Ficus retusa, Ficus gibbosa, and Ficus tsiela. It occasionally consumes insects, grubs, termites, ants, and small caterpillars, using a technique of perching and pecking when dealing with small fruits. During the non-breeding season, they join mixed-species foraging flocks.

Did you know?

The nest hole is excavated on the underside of thin branches, a process that takes approximately 18 days and often results in the destruction of nests by larger barbets attempting to enlarge the opening.