Crimson-fronted Barbet - BirdForum Opus

Alternate name: Small Barbet; includes Malabar Barbet

Malabar Barbet
Photo by Momo
Western Ghats, India

Megalaima rubricapillus

Identification

15 cm

• Green body
• Green wings
• Blue band on sides of head and nect
• Black crescent behind the eye

Distribution

Asia: found in Sri Lanka and India.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized ^[1]:

• rubricapillus: has more of an orangey/yellow colour in front

• endemic to Sri Lanka

• malabarica: has a a crimson front

• endemic Western Ghats, India

These two are sometimes treated as separate species; subspecies malabarica would then become Malabar Barbet.

Habitat

Open woodland.

Behaviour

Arboreal.

Diet

The diet includes fruit and insects.

Breeding

The nest is a tree hole. The clutch consists of 2-4 eggs.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Wikipedia

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Crimson-fronted Barbet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Crimson-fronted_Barbet

External Links

Search for photos of Crimson-fronted Barbet in the gallery