Malabar Barbet
Psilopogon malabaricus
Silhouette: Vijay Cavale (photo), John E. McCormack, Michael G. Harvey, Brant C. Faircloth, Nicholas G. Crawford, Travis C. Glenn, Robb T. Brumfield & T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPiciformes (Woodpeckers and Allies)
- FamilyMegalaimidae (Asian Barbets)
- GenusPsilopogon (Typical Asian Barbets)
- SpeciesPsilopogon malabaricus (Malabar Barbet)
About the Malabar Barbet
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 (Psilopogon rubricapillus). It overlaps in some places with the range of the coppersmith barbet (Psilopogon haemacephala) and has a similar but more rapid call.
This species can be told apart from the coppersmith barbet by the crimson face and throat. The call notes are more rapidly delivered than in the other species. This species is found in the Western Ghats from around Goa south to southern Kerala in moist evergreen forest mainly below 1200 m elevation. They are also found in coffee estates. They often visit fruiting Ficus species, joining flocks of green pigeon and mynas.
These birds are usually seen in pairs during the breeding season but are gregarious in the non-breeding season. In flight, their straight and rapid flight can resemble that of lorikeets. The breeding season is mainly February–March prior to the rains. The nest hole is excavated on the underside of thin branches. It takes about 18 days to excavate the nest. These nest holes... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Malabar Barbet in Periyar National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Periyar National Park
White-cheeked Barbet
Psilopogon viridis
Coppersmith Barbet
Psilopogon haemacephalus
Black-rumped Flameback
Dinopium benghalense
Heart-spotted Woodpecker
Hemicircus canente
Rufous Woodpecker
Micropternus brachyurus
White-bellied Woodpecker
Dryocopus javensis
Brown-capped Woodpecker
Yungipicus nanus
Lesser Yellownape
Picus chlorolophus
Common Flameback
Dinopium javanense
Streak-throated Woodpecker
Picus xanthopygaeus
Speckled Piculet
Picumnus innominatus
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker
Leiopicus mahrattensis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Periyar National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 2 | Nagarhole National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 3 | Eravikulam National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Mudumalai National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 5 | Bandipur National Park | 🇮🇳 India |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Malabar Barbet in Periyar National Park?
About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Malabar Barbet sighting in Periyar National Park, based on 2,615 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Malabar Barbet in Periyar National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Malabar Barbet in Periyar National Park in our monthly data.