Higher classification Megalaima | Phylum Chordata Scientific name Megalaima chrysopogon Rank Species | |
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Similar Bird, Red‑throated barbet, Yellow‑crowned barbet, Brown barbet, Blue‑eared barbet | ||
The golden-whiskered barbet (Psilopogon chrysopogon), a near passerine bird from Southeast Asia, is a species of Asian barbet.
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Description
At 24 to 30 centimeters in length and weighing from 110 to 181 grams, the golden-whiskered barbet is one of the largest of the sixteen species of barbets in Southeast Asia. Their green overall plumage and yellow "whiskered" cheeks camouflages them amid the foliage they favor. Genders are similar in appearance but do display a small degree of sexual dichromatism in that the beaks of female specimens appear paler and have a dusky bluish color. Before reaching maturity birds of both sexes have duller overall plumage.
Habit and diet
This bird spends most of the day singing and foraging for food in the forest canopy. Otherwise well camouflaged, their rapid and extraordinary loud "tehoop-tehoop-tehoop-tehoop" call often betrays their presence.
Golden-whiskered barbets are frugivores that gorge themselves on berries, figs, and any edible fruits they can find.
Reproduction
Breeding season for the golden-whiskered barbet is from February to August. Their rounded, white eggs are laid two per clutch.
Range
The golden-whiskered barbet is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Borneo and Sumatra.
Habitat
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. They are found in lowland foothills and tall second growth forests but are rare in evergreen forests and swamp forests. The golden-whiskered barbet can also found be found on cocoa plantations.
Subspecies
The following three subspecies of golden-whiskered barbet have been identified:
Other names
In Mandarin Chinese it is known as 金须拟䴕 (jīnxū nǐliè) "golden-whiskered false woodpecker" or 金颊拟啄木鸟 (jīn jiá nǐ-zhuómù-niǎo) or as "gold-cheeked false woodpecker". Its Japanese name is キホオゴシキドリ or 黄頬五色鳥 (kihō goshikidori), "yellow-cheeked five-coloured bird." Bucco chrysopogon is a pseudonym.