Mangrove pitta

   ›      ›   Mangrove pitta - Pitta megarhyncha

The mangrove pitta (Pitta megarhyncha) belongs to the family of pittas, the Pittidae.

The mangrove pitta species is distributed in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. These pitta species have fragmented distribution and considered 'Near Threatened' by IUCN. These pittas are monotypic species.
Overview & Quick Facts Description & Identification
Pictures of Mangrove Pitta Distribution & Range
Ecosystem & Habitat Diet & Feeding Behavior
Breeding Habits Migration & Movement Patterns
Conservation & Survival IUCN Status
Taxonomy & Classification Bird World

Appearance, physical description and identification

The mangrove pitta is a small mangrove bird, measuring 18 to 20 cm in length and weighing 90 to 120 grams.

The adult mangrove pitta has a grayish brown cap with indistinct thin blackish or gray median stripe. There is broad black band from lores to the nape. The chin, throat and the sides of the neck are whitish.

The upperparts, shoulders, mantle, back and wing are dark grayish green. The uppertail is blue. Adults have a large pale greenish-blue glossy patch on the side of the folded wings.

The underparts are yellowish buff and the lower belly, vent and undertail are bright red in adults. The tail is short and stubby. Both the sexes have similar plumage and the juveniles are duller.

The bill is dark gray. The irises are black. The feet are long and are pale grayish pink. Their call is a repeated "wieuw..wieuw" or "oieuw..oieuw" sound.
Indian birds - Picture of Mangrove pitta
1.Birds of India - Image of Mangrove pitta by Darren Bellerby

Advertisement

Images
Birds of India - Photo of Mangrove pitta
2.Indian birds - Picture of Mangrove pitta by Darren Bellerby

Indian birds - Image of Mangrove pitta
3.Birds of India - Photo of Mangrove pitta by Darren Bellerby

Origin, geographical range and distribution

The mangrove pitta species are distributed in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

In India and Bangladesh they occur in the Sundarban Mangroves. In Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia these species occur on the western coasts. In Sumatra (Indonesia) they are distributed on the eastern coast.

Ecosystem and habitat

These species have moderate forest dependence. They normally occur in altitudes from 0 to 100 meters.

The natural ecosystems and habitats of these mangrove species include, tropical and subtropical mangrove forests, tropical and subtropical wetlands, rivers, coastal marshlands, streams, creeks and estuaries.

Diet and feeding behavior

The diet of these birds consists mainly of molluscs. Crustaceans, crabs, beetles, ants, termites, insect larvae are their primary food. They forage on the mangrove forest floor and take rest in trees and shrubs during high tide.

Reproduction and breeding habits

The breeding season of the mangrove pitta species is from April to August in Indian subcontinent. In southeast Asia the breeding season is from April to June. These birds are monogamous. Both the pairs take part in nest building, incubation of eggs and care of the young.

They build a dome-shaped nest with sticks, dead leaves, grass and coconut fibres on a elevated location on the forest floor. The nest has a side entrance. The female lays 4-5 pale eggs. The chicks hatch out in about two weeks.

Migration and movement patterns

These mangrove pitta species are non-migratory resident birds.

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.

Mangrove pitta - Quick Facts

  • Scientific name: Pitta megarhyncha
  • Species author: Schlegel, 1863
  • Synonyms/Protonym: Pitta megarhyncha Schlegel, 1863
  • Family: Pittidae › Passeriformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
  • Vernacular names: English: Mangrove pitta, Chinese: 红树八色鸫, French: Brève des palétuviers, German: Große Blauflügelpitta, Spanish: Pita de manglar, Russian: Мангровая питта, Japanese: マングローブヤイロチョウ, Indonesian: Paok Bakau
  • Other names: Larger Blue-winged Pitta, Malay Pitta
  • Distribution: India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia
  • Diet and feeding habits: crabs, other crustaceans, molluscs, beetles, ants, termites, insect larvae
  • IUCN status listing: Near Threatened (NT)

Conservation and survival

The global population size of the mangrove pitta has not been quantified. The overall population trend of the species is considered to be decreasing.

Throughout its range, this species is reported to be scarce to locally common. The generation length is 4.2 years. Its distribution size is about 1,680,000 sq.km.

Mangrove habitat alteration and destruction and development of aquaculture facilities along the coast are the main threats that are endangering the survival of this species.

IUCN and CITES status

The mangrove pitta is approaching the thresholds for being Vulnerable under the range size criterion, under the population trend criterion and under the population size criterion.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated the species and has listed it as "Near Threatened".

The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) status is ‘Not Evaluated’ for mangrove pitta.
Taxonomy and scientific classification of Pitta megarhyncha
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Pittidae
Subfamily:-
Genus:Pitta
Species:P. megarhyncha
Binomial name:Pitta megarhyncha
IUCN status listing:
Near Threatened
The mangrove pitta (P. megarhyncha) is closely related to blue-winged pitta (P. moluccensis) and was considered conspecific with P. moluccensis.
Popular posts on Birds of India
Grey-headed lapwing Common snipe
Mew gull Andaman cuckoo-dove
Green-billed malkoha Collared owlet
Lineated barbet White-browed piculet
Red kite Common woodshrike
White-breasted woodswallow Marshall's iora
Andaman cuckooshrike Long-billed dowitcher
Red-wattled lapwing Lesser black-backed gull
White-bellied sea eagle Pallas's fish eagle
White-tailed sea-eagle Lesser fish eagle
Grey-headed fish-eagle Bearded vulture
Tufted duck Greater scaup
Long-tailed duck Common goldeneye
Smew Common merganser
Tundra swan Mute swan
Whooper swan Yellow bittern
Common little bittern Cinnamon bittern
Black bittern Eurasian bittern
Long-tailed broadbill Common (Grey-capped) emerald dove
Black kite Large woodshrike
Yellow-wattled lapwing Great snipe
Franklin's gull Barred cuckoo-dove
Blue-faced malkoha Himalayan owl
Brown-headed barbet Speckled piculet
Silver-breasted broadbill Brahminy kite
Malabar woodshrike Ashy woodswallow
Common iora Large (Indian) cuckooshrike
Laughing dove Fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo
Brown wood owl Little swift
River lapwing Swinhoe's snipe

1.Picture source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mangrove_Pitta_(18699367178).jpg (cropped)
Picture author: Darren Bellerby | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 10/30/17
2.Picture source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/world-birds/18699376348/ (cropped)
Picture author: Darren Bellerby | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 10/30/17
3.Picture source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/world-birds/18860846486/ (cropped)
Picture author: Darren Bellerby | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 10/30/17
Current topic in Birds of India: Mangrove pitta - Pitta megarhyncha.
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.

Grey-capped woodpecker photos

   ›      ›   Grey-capped (pygmy) woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus Photos
Taxonomic classification   <>   Photos
The grey-capped woodpecker (Picoides canicapillus) belongs to the family Picidae under the order Piciformes.

Grey-capped woodpecker taxonomy

The family Picidae was first described by William Elford Leach, MD, FRS (2 February 1791 – 25 August 1836), an English zoologist and marine biologist, in the year 1820. It comprises four subfamilies, viz., Jynginae, Nesoctitinae, Picumninae and Picinae.

The subfamily Picinae was first introduced by Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte, (24 May 1803 – 29 July 1857), a French biologist and ornithologist, in the year 1838. The Picinae comprises several genera.

The genus Picoides was first described by Bernard Germain de Lacépède (26 December 1756 – 6 October 1825), a French naturalist, in the year 1799.

The species Picoides canicapillus was first introduced (as Picus canicapillus) by Edward Blyth (23 December 1810 – 27 December 1873), an English zoologist, in the year 1845. It is a polytypic species comprising about eleven subspecies.
Taxonomic classification
Binomial name:Picoides canicapillus
Species:P. canicapillus
Genus:Picoides
Subfamily:-
Family:Picidae
Order:Piciformes
Class:Aves
Phylum:Chordata
Kingdom:Animalia
Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus
1.Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus 351
Photo by Ron Knight

Advertisement

Images
Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus
2.Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus
Photo by Dr. Raju Kasambe

Picoides canicapillus
3.Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus
Photo by David Cook

Picoides canicapillus
4.Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus
Photo by Ron Knight

Picoides canicapillus
5.Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus
Photo by Francesco Veronesi

Picoides canicapillus
6.Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus
Image by Dr. Raju Kasambe

Advertisement

Popular posts in Birds of India
South polar skua Common snipe
Mew gull Andaman cuckoo-dove
Crab-plover Beach thick-knee
Ibisbill Black-winged stilt
Pied avocet Northern lapwing
Pintail snipe Oriental pratincole
Lord Derby's parakeet Lesser cuckoo
Rock eagle-owl Indian nightjar
Brown-backed needletail Stork-billed kingfisher
Blue-tailed bee-eater Malabar pied hornbill
Himalayan swiftlet Ward's trogon
European roller Blyth's kingfisher
Pallas's sandgrouse Yellow-eyed pigeon
Plum-headed parakeet Whistling hawk-cuckoo
Pallid scops owl Sykes's nightjar
Edible-nest swiftlet Indian roller
Jerdon's courser Jack snipe
Brown-headed gull Slender-billed gull
Eurasian collared dove Violet cuckoo
Buffy fish owl Dark-rumped swift
Crested kingfisher Wreathed hornbill
Pheasant-tailed jacana Solitary snipe
Green-billed malkoha Collared owlet
Lineated barbet White-browed piculet
Western hooded pitta Common woodshrike
White-breasted woodswallow Marshall's iora
Andaman cuckooshrike Long-billed dowitcher
Red-wattled lapwing Lesser black-backed gull
Long-tailed broadbill Common kingfisher
Blue-naped pitta Large woodshrike

1.Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9919745@N03/8077041092 (cropped)
Author: Ron Knight | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 10/28/17
2.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grey-capped_Pygmy_Woodpecker_Dendrocopos_canicapillus_IMG_0716_(1).jpg (cropped)
Author: Dr. Raju Kasambe | License: CC BY-SA 4.0
3.Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kookr/16782354975/ (cropped)
Author: David Cook | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 10/28/17
4.Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sussexbirder/8080241189/ (cropped)
Author: Ron Knight | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 10/28/17
5.Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/francesco_veronesi/16224595607/ (cropped)
Author: Francesco Veronesi | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 10/28/17
6.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org (cropped)
Author: Dr. Raju Kasambe | License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Grey-capped woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus photos.
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.

Grey-capped (pygmy) woodpecker

   ›      ›   Grey-capped (pygmy) woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus

The grey-capped woodpecker (Picoides canicapillus) belongs to the family of piculets and woodpeckers, the Picidae.

The grey-capped woodpecker species is distributed in Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, China, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan and Russia. These woodpecker species are very small birds with white and black barring. These woodpeckers are polytypic species.
Overview & Quick Facts Description & Identification
Pictures of Grey-capped Woodpecker Distribution & Range
Ecosystem & Habitat Diet & Feeding Behavior
Breeding Habits Migration & Movement Patterns
Conservation & Survival IUCN Status
Taxonomy & Classification Bird World

Appearance, physical description and identification

The grey-capped woodpecker (Picoides canicapillus) is a small pigmy woodpecker, measuring 14 to 16 cm in length and weighing 20 to 30 grams.

The adult grey-capped woodpecker has black upperparts with white barring. The crown and the forehead are grayish. The sides of the crown is black. There are broad white supercilia. The cheek has whitish patch. There are black eye stripes.

The grey-capped woodpecker underparts are buff or dirty white with prominent dark streaking. The males have a red patch behind the crown. The bill is grayish. The irises are dark. The feet are gray. Their call is a short "chip..chip" sound.
Indian birds - Picture of Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus
1.Birds of India - Image of Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus by Dr. Raju Kasambe

Advertisement

Images
Birds of India - Photo of Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus
2.Indian birds - Picture of Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus by Ron Knight

Indian birds - Image of Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus
3.Birds of India - Photo of Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus by David Cook

Origin, geographical range and distribution

The grey-capped woodpecker species are distributed in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, southeast Asia, China, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan and Russia.

In India, these woodpecker species are distributed in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram.

The grey-capped woodpecker nominate subspecies P. c. canicapillus is distributed in Bangladesh, central and northeast India (eastern Assam), central and southern Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. The subspecies P. c. aurantiiventris is found in Borneo (Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia).

The grey-capped woodpecker subspecies P. c. volzi is distributed in Indonesia (Riau, Sumatra and Nias Islands. The subspecies P. c. auritus is distributed in southern Thailand and peninsular Malaysia. The subspecies P. c. delacouri is found in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The grey-capped woodpecker subspecies P. c. semicoronatus is distributed in Nepal and Assam (India). The subspecies P. c. mitchellii is distributed in northern Pakistan and northern India. The subspecies P. c. swinhoei is distributed in Hainan (China).

The grey-capped woodpecker subspecies P. c. kaleensis is distributed in south and southeast China, Taiwan and northern parts of Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. The subspecies P. c. scintilliceps is found in central and eastern China. The woodpecker subspecies P. c. doerriesi is distributed in eastern Russia, Koreas and northeast China.

Ecosystem and habitat

These grey-capped woodpecker species have moderate forest dependence. They normally occur in altitudes from 0 to 2800 meters. The artificial ecosystems and habitats of these species include, rural gardens and plantations.

The natural ecosystems and habitats of these grey-capped woodpecker species include, tropical and subtropical moist montane forests, tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, evergreen forests, dry shrublands and moist deciduous forests.

Diet and feeding behavior

The diet of these grey-capped woodpeckers consists mainly of insects. Caterpillars, cicadas, grasshoppers, bugs, leafhoppers, small beetles, insect larvae and pupae, flies, ants, termites are their primary food. Occasionally they feed on fruits, seeds and plant matter.

These grey-capped pygmy woodpecker species excavate holes and probe into crevices in the wood and bark for their prey. They also glean prey from leaves and twigs. They also feed from ant nests and termite mounds.

Reproduction and breeding habits

The breeding season of the grey-capped woodpecker species is from April to July in Indian subcontinent. In southeast Asia the breeding season is from December to April. The nests are excavated in trees. These birds are monogamous and territorial.

Both the parent grey-capped woodpeckers take part in excavating the nest and incubating the eggs. The clutch may contain 2-4 round, white eggs. The chicks hatch out in about 14 days and take about 25–30 days to fledge. The hatchlings are altricial.

Migration and movement patterns

These grey-capped woodpecker species are non-migratory resident birds. The birds in higher altitudes may move to lower levels during winter.

Post breeding, the juvenile woodpeckers may disperse and establish in new locations within the range. They may make local movements for feeding and breeding within their range.

Grey-capped woodpecker - Quick Facts

  • Scientific name: Picoides canicapillus
  • Species author: (Blyth, 1845)
  • Synonyms/Protonym: Picus canicapillus Blyth, 1845, Yungipicus canicapillus
  • Family: Picidae › Piciformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
  • Vernacular names: English: Grey-capped woodpecker, Chinese: 星头啄木鸟, French: Pic à coiffe grise, German: Grauscheitelspecht, Spanish: Pico crestigrís, Russian: Большой острокрылый дятел, Japanese: ハイガシラコゲラ, Indonesian: Caladi Belacan
  • Other names: Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
  • Distribution: Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, China, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Russia
  • Diet and feeding habits: caterpillars, beetles, grubs, ants, termites, insect larvae, seeds, fruits
  • IUCN status listing: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation and survival

The global population size of the grey-capped woodpecker (Picoides canicapillus) has not been quantified. The overall population trend of the woodpecker species is considered to be stable.

Throughout its range, this woodpecker species is reported to be locally common to fairly common. The generation length is 5.2 years. Its distribution size is about 23,400,000 sq.km.

Habitat alteration and destruction and deforestation are the main threats that are endangering the survival of this woodpecker species.

IUCN and CITES status

The grey-capped woodpecker (Picoides canicapillus) does not approach the thresholds for being Vulnerable either 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 woodpecker 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 grey-capped woodpecker (Picoides canicapillus).
Taxonomy and scientific classification of Picoides canicapillus
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Piciformes
Family:Picidae
Subfamily:-
Genus:Picoides
Species:P. canicapillus
Binomial name:Picoides canicapillus
IUCN status listing:
Least Concern
The grey-capped woodpecker (Picoides canicapillus) is closely related to Indian pygmy woodpecker (Picoides nanus).

The eleven recognized subspecies of grey-capped woodpecker (Picoides canicapillus) are: P. c. canicapillus, P. c. delacouri, P. c. aurantiiventris, P. c. doerriesi, P. c. auritus, P. c. volzi, P. c. semicoronatus, P. c. scintilliceps, P. c. kaleensis, P. c. swinhoei and P. c. mitchellii.
Popular posts on Birds of India
Mountain hawk-eagle Common snipe
Mew gull Andaman cuckoo-dove
Peregrine falcon Indian swiftlet
Red-headed trogon Tibetan sandgrouse
Snow pigeon Saker falcon
Common hawk-cuckoo Sri Lanka bay owl
Collared scops owl European nightjar
Slaty-breasted rail Western water rail
Eastern water rail Corncrake
Brown crake White-browed crake
White-breasted waterhen Black-tailed crake
Little crake Baillon's crake
Ruddy-breasted crake Watercock
Common moorhen Common coot
Siberian crane Sarus crane
Common crane Black-necked crane
Hooded crane Slaty-legged crake
Yellow-legged buttonquail Common buttonquail
Barred buttonquail Masked finfoot
Andaman crake Demoiselle crane
Green-billed malkoha Collared owlet
Lineated barbet White-browed piculet
Western hooded pitta Common woodshrike
White-breasted woodswallow Marshall's iora
Andaman cuckooshrike Long-billed dowitcher
Red-wattled lapwing Lesser black-backed gull
Long-tailed broadbill Laggar falcon
Blue-naped pitta Large woodshrike
Yellow-wattled lapwing Great snipe
Franklin's gull Barred cuckoo-dove

1.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grey-capped_Pygmy_Woodpecker_Dendrocopos_canicapillus_IMG_0716_(1).jpg (cropped)
Image author: Dr. Raju Kasambe | License: CC BY-SA 4.0
2.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9919745@N03/8077041092 (cropped)
Image author: Ron Knight | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 10/28/17
3.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kookr/16782354975/ (cropped)
Image author: David Cook | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 10/28/17
Current topic in Birds of India: Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker - Picoides canicapillus.
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.

Golden-throated barbet images

   ›      ›   Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii images
Taxonomic classification   <>   Images
The golden-throated barbet (Psilopogon franklinii) belongs to the family Megalaimidae under the order Piciformes.

Golden-throated barbet taxonomy

The family Megalaimidae was first introduced by Edward Blyth (23 December 1810 – 27 December 1873), an English zoologist, in the year 1852. The Megalaimidae comprises two subfamilies, namely, Megalaiminae and Caloramphinae.

The subfamily Megalaiminae is monotypic and comprises the genus Psilopogon. This genus was first described by Dr. Salomon Müller (April 7, 1804 – December 29, 1864), a German naturalist, in the year 1836.

The genus Psilopogon comprises about 31 species. The species Psilopogon pyrolophus is the type species of this genus. The species Psilopogon franklinii was first introduced by Edward Blyth in the year 1842.

The species Psilopogon franklinii is polytypic and comprises two subspecies, viz., Psilopogon franklinii franklinii (Blyth, 1842) and Psilopogon franklinii ramsayi (Walden, 1875).
Taxonomic classification
Binomial name:Psilopogon franklinii
Species:P. franklinii
Genus:Psilopogon
Subfamily:-
Family:Megalaimidae
Order:Piciformes
Class:Aves
Phylum:Chordata
Kingdom:Animalia
Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii
1.Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii
image by Francesco Veronesi

Advertisement

Images
Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii
2.Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii
image by JJ Harrison

Psilopogon franklinii
3.Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii
image by Francesco Veronesi

Psilopogon franklinii
4.Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii
image by Jason Thompson

Psilopogon franklinii
5.Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii
image by Jason Thompson

Psilopogon franklinii
6.Psilopogon franklinii
image by Dibyendu Ash

Advertisement

Popular posts in Birds of India
Crab-plover Beach thick-knee
Ibisbill Black-winged stilt
Snow partridge Painted francolin
Chinese francolin Swamp francolin
Tibetan partridge Himalayan quail
Painted bush quail Manipur bush quail
Chestnut-breasted partridge White-cheeked partridge
Koklass pheasant Western tragopan
Mrs. Hume's pheasant Green peafowl
Indian peafowl - Blue peacock Barau's petrel
Wedge-tailed shearwater Flesh-footed Shearwater
Short-tailed shearwater Streaked shearwater
Pied avocet Northern lapwing
Pintail snipe Oriental pratincole
Jerdon's courser Jack snipe
Brown-headed gull Slender-billed gull
Eurasian collared dove Violet cuckoo
Buffy fish owl Dark-rumped swift
Crested kingfisher Wreathed hornbill
Pheasant-tailed jacana Solitary snipe
Bronze-winged jacana Greater painted-snipe
Narcondam hornbill Pied kingfisher
Grey-headed lapwing Common snipe
Mew gull Andaman cuckoo-dove
Green-billed malkoha Collared owlet
Black stork White-browed piculet
Western hooded pitta Common woodshrike
White-breasted woodswallow Marshall's iora
Andaman cuckooshrike Long-billed dowitcher
Red-wattled lapwing Lesser black-backed gull

1.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Golden-throated_Barbet_-_Bhutan_S4E0602_(15788610633).jpg (cropped)
Author: Francesco Veronesi | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 10/26/17
2.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Megalaima_franklinii_-_Mae_Wong.jpg (cropped)
Author: JJ Harrison | License: CC BY 3.0
3.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/francesco_veronesi/34246343936/ (cropped)
Author: Francesco Veronesi | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 10/26/17
4.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/79492850@N00/8464829738/ (cropped)
Image author: Jason Thompson | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 10/26/17
5.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/79492850@N00/8470533642/ (cropped)
Author: Jason Thompson | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 10/26/17
6.Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/ (cropped)
Image author: Dibyendu Ash | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii images.
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.

Golden-throated barbet

   ›      ›   Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii

The golden-throated barbet (Psilopogon franklinii) belongs to the family of Asian barbets, the Megalaimidae.

The golden-throated barbet species is distributed in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia. These barbet species have bristles fringing their bills. These barbets are polytypic species.
Overview & Quick Facts Description & Identification
Pictures of Golden-throated Barbet Distribution & Range
Ecosystem & Habitat Diet & Feeding Behavior
Breeding Habits Migration & Movement Patterns
Conservation & Survival IUCN Status
Taxonomy & Classification Bird World

Appearance, physical description and identification

The golden-throated barbet (Psilopogon franklinii) is an Asian barbet, measuring 20 to 25 cm in length and weighing 50 to 100 grams.

The adult golden-throated barbet has overall green plumage. The crown and the upper throat are yellow. The lower throat is whitish. The forehead is reddish. There is a broad blackish eye stripe.

The sides of the face is silvery gray. The upperparts are dark green and the lowerparts are pale green. The tail is short and the undertail is bluish. Both the male and female look similar. The juveniles have duller plumage.

The bill is dark and heavy. It is fringed by bristles. The irises are dark brown. The feet are gray. Their call is a trill followed by "kukow..kukow..kukow" sound.
Indian birds - Picture of Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii
1.Birds of India - Image of Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii by JJ Harrison

Advertisement

Images
Birds of India - Photo of Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii
2.Indian birds - Picture of Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii by Francesco Veronesi

Indian birds - Image of Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii
3.Birds of India - Photo of Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii by Francesco Veronesi

Origin, geographical range and distribution

The golden-throated barbet species are distributed in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia.

In India, these barbet species are distributed in the states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram.

The golden-throated barbet nominate subspecies P. f. franklinii is distributed in Nepal, Bhutan, northeast India, north Myanmar, south China (Tibet, Yunnan, southwest Guangxi), northern Thailand, northern Laos and northern Vietnam.

The golden-throated barbet subspecies P. f. ramsayi is distributed in central Myanmar, northwest Thailand and Malaysia.

Ecosystem and habitat

These golden-throated barbet species have high forest dependence. They normally occur in altitudes from 900 to 2700 meters.

The natural ecosystems and habitats of these golden-throated barbet species include, montane forests, tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, evergreen forests, moist montane shrublands, moist deciduous forests, steep ravines and riverine habitats.

Diet and feeding behavior

The diet of these golden-throated barbet consists mainly of fruits. Berries, wild fruits, orchard fruits and figs are their primary food. Occasionally they feed on insects.

Reproduction and breeding habits

The breeding season of the golden-throated barbet species is from March to August in India. In Malaysia the breeding season is from February to May. The nests are excavated in trees. These birds are monogamous and territorial.

Migration and movement patterns

These golden-throated barbet species are non-migratory resident birds. The birds in higher altitudes may move to lower levels 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.

Golden-throated barbet - Quick Facts

  • Scientific name: Psilopogon franklinii
  • Species author: (Blyth, 1842)
  • Synonyms/Protonym: Bucco Franklinii Blyth, 1842, Megalaima franklinii
  • Family: Megalaimidae › Piciformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
  • Vernacular names: English: Golden-throated barbet, Chinese: 金喉拟鴷, French: Barbu de Franklin, German: Weißwangen-Bartvogel, Spanish: Barbudo de Franklin, Russian: Золотистогорлый бородастик, Japanese: キンノドゴシキドリ, Malay: Burung Takor Gunung
  • Other names: Necklaced Barbet
  • Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia
  • Diet and feeding habits: fruits, berries, figs
  • IUCN status listing: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation and survival

The global population size of the golden-throated barbet (Psilopogon franklinii) has not been quantified. The overall population trend of the species is considered to be stable.

Throughout its range, this barbet species is reported to be common to locally very common. The generation length is 8.5 years. Its distribution size is about 4,010,000 sq.km.

Habitat alteration and destruction and capture for pet-trade are the main threats that are endangering the survival of this barbet species.

IUCN and CITES status

The golden-throated barbet (Psilopogon franklinii) does not approach the thresholds for being Vulnerable either 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 golden-throated barbet (Psilopogon franklinii).
Taxonomy and scientific classification of Psilopogon franklinii
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Piciformes
Family:Megalaimidae
Subfamily:-
Genus:Psilopogon
Species:P. franklinii
Binomial name:Psilopogon franklinii
IUCN status listing:
Least Concern
The golden-throated barbet (Psilopogon franklinii) is closely related to the necklaced barbet (Psilopogon auricularis).

The two recognized subspecies of the golden-throated barbet (Psilopogon franklinii) are: Psilopogon franklinii franklinii (Blyth, 1842) and Psilopogon franklinii ramsayi (Walden, 1875).
Popular posts on Birds of India
European bee-eater Oriental pied hornbill
White-eyed gull Caspian tern
Andaman wood pigeon Long-tailed parakeet
Plaintive cuckoo Dusky eagle-owl
Alpine swift White-breasted kingfisher
Chestnut-headed bee-eater Rufous-necked hornbill
Great hornbill Asian emerald cuckoo
Cream-coloured courser Collared kingfisher
Sooty gull Tawny fish owl
Lesser crested tern Pacific swift
European turtle dove Asian emerald cuckoo
Brown skua Common gull-billed tern
Nicobar scops owl Andaman nightjar
Ashy wood pigeon Oriental dwarf kingfisher
Asian green bee-eater Malabar grey hornbill
Arctic jaeger Spotted sandgrouse
Grey-headed lapwing Common snipe
Mew gull Andaman cuckoo-dove
Green-billed malkoha Collared owlet
Eurasian eagle-owl White-browed piculet
Western hooded pitta Common woodshrike
White-breasted woodswallow Marshall's iora
Andaman cuckooshrike Long-billed dowitcher
Red-wattled lapwing Lesser black-backed gull
Long-tailed broadbill Common (Grey-capped) emerald dove
Blue-naped pitta Large woodshrike
Yellow-wattled lapwing Great snipe
Franklin's gull Barred cuckoo-dove
Blue-faced malkoha Himalayan owl
Himalayan cuckoo Speckled piculet

1.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Megalaima_franklinii_-_Mae_Wong.jpg (cropped)
Image author: JJ Harrison | License: CC BY 3.0
2.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Golden-throated_Barbet_-_Bhutan_S4E0602_(15788610633).jpg (cropped)
Image author: Francesco Veronesi | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 10/26/17
3.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/francesco_veronesi/34246343936/ (cropped)
Image author: Francesco Veronesi | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 10/26/17
Current topic in Birds of India: Golden-throated barbet - Psilopogon franklinii.
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.