Psilopogon faiostrictus
The Green-eared Barbet, *Psilopogon faiostrictus*, is a vibrant member of the Asian barbet family Megalaimidae, instantly recognizable by its striking plumage and distinctive calls. Measuring approximately 25-27 cm in length and weighing 80-120 grams, this stocky arboreal bird sports a predominantly grass-green body, contrasted by a bright red forehead and crown, a prominent yellow supercilium (eyestripe), and a distinctive blue patch on its lower cheek and throat, often bordered by a dark ma...
This barbet primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist lowland broadleaf forests, including evergreen and mixed deciduous forests, as well as forest edges, secondary growth, and cultivated areas, typically found from sea level up to 1,500 meters.
Their diet primarily consists of a variety of wild fruits, especially figs and berries, supplemented by insects such as beetles, ants, and caterpillars, gleaned from foliage and bark or caught in flight.
Green-eared Barbets are diurnal, spending their days foraging high in the forest canopy and roosting in tree cavities at night. They are predominantly arboreal, moving deliberately through the branches in search of food. Foraging involves pecking at fruits directly from branches or occasionally s...
The Green-eared Barbet has a wide and stable distribution across Southeast Asia, being a resident species throughout its range. Its core breeding and year-round territories extend from northeastern India (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur), through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietna...
Least Concern
- The Green-eared Barbet's scientific name, *faiostrictus*, derives from Greek, meaning "dark-streaked," referring to subtle markings that can be present, though its vibrant colors are far more prominent. - Unlike many cavity-nesting birds that reuse old holes, Green-eared Barbets excavate a new ...