Great Barbet

Overview

The great barbet (Psilopogon virens) is an Asian barbet native to the Indian sub-continent and Southeast Asia. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution.

Identification

• Plumage: Green body with a blue head, large yellow bill, and a red vent.
• Size: The largest barbet species, with a body length of 32–35 cm and a weight of 192–295 g.
• Vocalisation: Territorial call is a very loud 'kay-oh', accompanied by a harsh 'keeab' alarm and a repetitive 'piou-piou' call.

Habitat

It inhabits forests up to 3,000 m altitude across northern Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and parts of Southeast Asia as far as Laos. The species is a resident breeder in the lower-to-middle altitudes of the Himalayas.

Diet

The diet consists mainly of fruits and insects.

Did you know?

It is the largest barbet species, measuring 32–35 cm in length and weighing up to 295 g.