Malabar Barbet

The Malabar barbet, Psilopogon malabaricus, is a vibrant bird adorned with a crimson face and throat, a characteristic that distinguishes it from its relatives. This species, once considered a race of the crimson-fronted barbet, is now recognized as a distinct entity, native to the lush Western Ghats of India.

Identification Tips

To identify the Malabar barbet, look for its distinctive crimson face and throat. The bird's call is another identifying feature; it is similar to that of the coppersmith barbet but delivered at a more rapid pace.

Habitat

The Malabar barbet thrives in the moist evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, typically below 1200 meters in elevation. These birds are also known to inhabit coffee estates, where they can be seen mingling with other avian species.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Western Ghats, with its range extending from around Goa in the north to southern Kerala. It shares some of its range with the coppersmith barbet.

Behaviour

During the breeding season, Malabar barbets are usually seen in pairs, but outside of this period, they become more gregarious. Their flight is straight and rapid, which may sometimes be reminiscent of lorikeets. The breeding season peaks around February to March, just before the onset of the rains.

Song & Calls

The Malabar barbet's call is a distinctive feature, similar to that of the coppersmith barbet but more rapid, which can be heard echoing through the forests they inhabit.

Breeding

The breeding season for the Malabar barbet is primarily in February and March. They excavate their nest holes on the underside of thin branches, a process that takes about 18 days. These nests are sometimes usurped by larger barbets. Each year, a new nest is made, and occasionally, multiple holes are created, with the extras serving as roosting spots. The species lays two eggs per clutch, which are incubated for 14 to 15 days. The chicks are initially fed insects, followed by fruits, and fledge in about 35 days.

Diet and Feeding

The Malabar barbet's diet mainly consists of fruits, but it also includes grubs, termites, ants, and small caterpillars. They have a particular affinity for Ficus species fruits and tend to peck at small fruits rather than swallowing them whole. In the non-breeding season, they often join mixed-species foraging flocks.

Conservation status

The Malabar barbet is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, for now, this species does not face any immediate threat of extinction.