Asian Barbets

Asian barbets, known scientifically as Megalaimidae, consist of two genera and 34 species that inhabit the forests of the Indomalayan region, stretching from Tibet to Indonesia. These birds were originally combined with other barbets in the Capitonidae family, but they are now recognized as distinctively different and have been separated based on their unique characteristics. The majority of these barbets fall under the genus Psilopogon, except for a few classified under Caloramphus, which are distinct enough to form their own subfamily, Caloramphinae. The classification used to divide them into three genera, but recent studies consolidated them under Psilopogon due to taxonomic priority. Their family name is rooted in the Greek words for 'large throat,' reflective of their physical appearance. Some species include the Indochinese barbet, Blue-throated barbet, and Coppersmith barbet, with the Brown barbet and Sooty barbet being some of the birds classified in the distinct subfamily.