The lineated barbet (Psilopogon lineatus) belongs to the family of Asian barbets, Megalaimidae.
The lineated barbet species are distributed in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, southeast Asia and China. These barbet species are heavily streaked on the head, throat and breast. These barbets are polytypic species.
Lineated barbet - Overview
- Scientific name: Psilopogon lineatus
- Species author: (Vieillot, 1816)
- Synonyms/Protonym: Capito lineatus Vieillot, 1816, Megalaima lineata
- Family: Megalaimidae › Piciformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
- Vernacular names: English: Lineated barbet, Chinese: 纹拟鴷, French: Barbu rayé, German: Streifenbartvogel, Spanish: Barbudo listado, Russian: Полосатый бородастик, Japanese: シロボシオオゴシキドリ, Indonesian: Bultok
- Other names: Lineated Barbet
- Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China
- Diet and feeding habits: fruits, berries, figs, buds, flowers, nectar
- IUCN status listing: Least Concern (LC)
Appearance, physical description and identification
The lineated barbet (Psilopogon lineatus) is a large barbet, measuring 25 to 30 cm in length and weighing 110 to 200 grams.The overall plumage of these lineated barbet species is green. The back, wings, rump and uppertail are green. The head, nape, throat, breast and belly are pale buff and are heavily streaked. The vent region is pale green.
The bill is thick and is pale pink. There are bristles around the base of the bill. There is a large yellowish eye patch surrounding the eyes. The irises are blackish. The feet are pinkish orange.
Both the sexes appear similar and the juveniles have duller plumage. The lineated barbet call consists of trilling, repeated "poo-tok" sound.
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| 1.Birds of India - Image of Lineated barbet - Psilopogon lineatus by J.M.Garg |
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| 2.Indian birds - Picture of Lineated barbet - Psilopogon lineatus by J.M.Garg |
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| 3.Birds of India - Photo of Lineated barbet - Psilopogon lineatus by polen2003 |
Origin, geographical range and distribution
These lineated barbet species are distributed in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and China.In India, these lineated barbets are distributed in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram.
The subspecies P. l. hodgsoni is distributed in northwest India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, east and northeast India, south China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and peninsular Malaysia.
The lineated barbet nominate subspecies P. l. lineatus is distributed in Java and Bali (Indonesia).
The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of these lineated barbet species in Cambodia are Western Siem Pang, Kirirom, Upper Srepok Catchment and Mondulkiri - Kratie Lowlands.
The IBAs of lineated barbets in Nepal are Barandabhar forests and wetlands, Bardia National Park, Chitwan National Park, Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve, Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Farmlands in Lumbini area, Dang Deukhuri foothill forests and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
Some of the IBAs of lineated barbets in Laos are Attapu Plain, Xe Sap, Xe Kong Plains, Dakchung Plateau, Upper Xe Kaman, Phou Loeuy, Phou Dendin, Nakai Plateau, Hin Namno, Dong Khanthung, Dong Kalo, Dong Ampham and Nakai-Nam Theun.
Ecosystem and habitat
These lineated barbet species have moderate forest dependence. These species normally occur in altitudes from 0 to 2000 meters.The artificial ecosystems and habitats of these species include plantations, rural gardens, orchards, urban parks and trees around cultivated fields.
The natural ecosystems of these species include tropical and subtropical moist montane forests, primary forests, dry deciduous forests, evergreen forests, dry shrublands and moist lowland forests.
Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of lineated barbet consists mainly of fruits. Diverse wild fruits like drupes, berries, figs and orchard fruits are their primary food. They also consume buds, flowers and nectar.Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of the lineated barbet species is from January to July in India. The laying season in Malay peninsula is from September to May. In Java and Bali, the laying season is from January to September.These species are monogamous and are highly aggressive and territorial. Their nesting sites are tree cavities. Both the adults excavate the nesting hole.
The clutch may contain 2-4 eggs. Both the parents take turn to incubate the eggs and care the hatchlings. The chick hatch out after 15 days.
Migration and movement patterns
These lineated barbet species are non-migratory resident birds. The birds in higher elevations come down to lower levels and plains during winter.Post breeding, the juveniles may disperse and establish in new locations within the range. They may make local movements for feeding and breeding within their range.
Conservation and survival
The global population size of the lineated barbet (Psilopogon lineatus) has not been quantified. The overall population trend of these barbet species is reported to be stable.Throughout its range this barbet species is reported to be common to fairly common. The generation length is 8.5 years. Its distribution size is about 8,150,000 sq.km.
Habitat degradation and fragmentation and trapping adult and juvenile birds for pet-trade are the main threats that may endanger the survival of these barbet species.
IUCN and CITES status
The lineated barbet (Psilopogon lineatus) does not approach the thresholds for being Vulnerable under the range size criterion or under the population trend criterion, or under the population size criterion.The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated the barbet species and has listed it as of "Least Concern".
The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) status is ‘Not Evaluated’ for lineated barbet (Psilopogon lineatus).
| Taxonomy and scientific classification of Psilopogon lineatus | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Family: | Megalaimidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Psilopogon |
| Species: | P. lineatus |
| Binomial name: | Psilopogon lineatus |
| IUCN status listing: |
 Least Concern |
The two recognized subspecies of Psilopogon lineatus are: Psilopogon lineatus lineatus (Vieillot, 1816) and Psilopogon lineatus hodgsoni (Bonaparte, 1850).
1.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lineated_Barbet_I_IMG_5792.jpg (cropped)
Photo author: J.M.Garg | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
2.Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lineated_Barbet-_on_a_Goolar_fig_(Ficus_racemosa)-_I_IMG_5807.jpg (cropped)
Photo author: J.M.Garg | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
3.Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/22720138@N04/34822528100/in/photostream/ (cropped)
Photo author: polen2003 | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 9/12/17
Current topic in Birds of India: Lineated barbet - Psilopogon lineatus.
