Psilopogon virens
The Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens) is a magnificent and strikingly colored bird, renowned as the largest barbet in the Himalayas and Southeast Asia, typically measuring 31-35 cm in length and weighing between 190-295 g. Its plumage is primarily a vibrant green, contrasting sharply with a deep blue head, adorned with a bright yellow orbital ring and crown patch, and a distinct red patch on the hindneck and throat. These vivid markings, along with its robust black bill, serve as key field ide...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical broadleaf evergreen forests, preferring hilly and montane regions, typically found at elevations ranging from 600 to 2600 meters.
Their diet consists predominantly of fruits, especially figs and berries, supplemented by a significant intake of insects and occasionally small vertebrates. Foraging primarily involves gleaning items from foliage and branches.
Great Barbets are diurnal birds, becoming particularly vocal at dawn and dusk, and they typically roost in tree cavities. Their foraging strategy centers on gleaning fruits directly from branches, though they also actively pursue insects. They are largely territorial, using their loud, resonant c...
The Great Barbet boasts a wide distribution across the Himalayan foothills and much of Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends from northern Pakistan (Kashmir), eastward through Nepal, Bhutan, and Northeast India, across Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and into southern and centr...
Least Concern
- The Great Barbet is the largest species of barbet found in the Himalayan region and Southeast Asia. - Its loud, resonant 'Poo-poo-poo' call can carry for several kilometers through dense forest, making it a prominent soundscape feature. - Despite its vibrant green plumage, its cryptic coloratio...