Coppersmith Barbet
Psilopogon haemacephalus
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 haemacephalus (Coppersmith Barbet)
About the Coppersmith Barbet
The coppersmith barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus), also called crimson-breasted barbet and coppersmith, is an Asian barbet with crimson forehead and throat, known for its metronomic call that sounds similar to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. It is a resident bird in the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. It carves out holes inside a tree to build its nest. It is predominantly frugivorous, but has been observed eating insects, especially winged termites.
The coppersmith barbet is green with a red head, yellow cheeks and a yellow throat. Its underparts are streaked in grey and black. During the nesting season, the wear and tear on the feathers can cause the plumage of the upper back to appear bluish.
It is 15–17 cm (5.9–6.7 in) long and weighs 30–52.6 g (1.06–1.86 oz). Bucco haemacephalus was the scientific name proposed by Philipp Ludwig Statius Müller in 1776 for a barbet from the Philippines. Bucco indicus was proposed by John Latham in 1790 for a streaked barbet from India with a black head and red forehead.
Bucco roseus was proposed by Charles Dumont de Sainte-Croix in 1816. Asian barbets were placed in the genus Megalaima... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Coppersmith Barbet in Sinharaja Forest Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Yellow-fronted Barbet
Psilopogon flavifrons
Crimson-fronted Barbet
Psilopogon rubricapillus
Brown-headed Barbet
Psilopogon zeylanicus
Lesser Sri Lanka Flameback
Dinopium psarodes
Lesser Yellownape
Picus chlorolophus
Crimson-backed Flameback
Chrysocolaptes stricklandi
Brown-capped Woodpecker
Yungipicus nanus
Black-rumped Flameback
Dinopium benghalense
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker
Leiopicus mahrattensis
White-naped Woodpecker
Chrysocolaptes festivus
Rufous Woodpecker
Micropternus brachyurus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Coppersmith Barbet in Sinharaja Forest Reserve?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Coppersmith Barbet sighting in Sinharaja Forest Reserve, based on 14 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Coppersmith Barbet in Sinharaja Forest Reserve?
September has the highest sighting rate for Coppersmith Barbet in Sinharaja Forest Reserve in our monthly data.