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Blue-throated Barbet - BirdForum Opus

Photo by atanumondal
Eastern India, December 2005
Psilopogon asiaticus

Magalaima asiatica

Identification

22–23 cm (8½-9 in)

  • Blue chin, throat, sides of head
  • Crimson forehead
  • Green body
  • Black bristles surround the bill

Sexes similar

Distribution

Asia: China, Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Eastern and Western Himalayas, Bangladesh, Bhutan
Southeast Asia: Indochina, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand

Taxonomy

Sometimes placed in the genus Megalaima.
Turquoise-throated Barbet was formerly included in this species.

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies[1]:

  • Blue-throated Barbet
  • P. a. asiaticus:
  • P. a. davisoni:

Habitat

Primary and secondary evergreen and broadleaved forest and second growth forest at elevations over 600m. Also forest edges, clearings and orchards.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet consists of figs and other fruits, berries and flowers.

Breeding

They nest in tree holes, the clutch consists of 3-4 white eggs. Both parents care for the young. They may raise two broods at lower altitudes.

Vocalisation

Recording by Alok Tewari
Sat Tal Forest, Alt. 5500 ft., Uttarakhand Himalayas, India, April-2017
Calling in the valley, late afternoon. BG calls by Slaty-headed Parakeet and Himalayan Black-lored Tit.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2016. IOC World Bird Names (version 6.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  3. Avibase
  4. Honolulu Zoo

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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