Psilopogon cyanotis
The Blue-eared Barbet, *Psilopogon cyanotis*, is a strikingly colorful and vocal avian resident of Southeast Asian forests. This medium-sized barbet typically measures between 17-23 cm (6.7-9.1 inches) in length and weighs 40-70 grams, with a robust, pale yellow bill. Its body is predominantly grass-green, providing excellent camouflage, but its head is a spectacle of brilliant blues, reds, and blacks: vivid blue ear-coverts, lores, and throat are framed by a prominent black eye-stripe and cr...
Favors tropical and subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests, secondary growth, forest edges, and plantations, typically found from lowlands up to 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) in elevation.
Primarily frugivorous, with a strong preference for a wide variety of wild fruits, especially figs. Supplements its diet with insects such as termites, caterpillars, ants, and beetles, often gleaned from bark or foliage.
Diurnal, the Blue-eared Barbet is often heard more than seen, spending much of its time concealed in the forest canopy, roosting singly in tree cavities overnight. Primarily arboreal, it moves deliberately through branches, gleaning fruits and insects. Males are highly territorial, using their lo...
The Blue-eared Barbet is widely distributed across Southeast Asia, being a resident species throughout its vast range with no significant migratory movements. Its breeding range extends from northeastern India (including states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, West Ben...
Least Concern
- The Blue-eared Barbet is a master architect, excavating its own nest cavities in dead or decaying wood using its strong, pointed bill. - Despite its vibrant blue, red, and green plumage, its primary defense is camouflage, often blending seamlessly with the dense forest canopy. - Its distinctive...