Fire-tufted barbet

Psilopogon pyrolophus

Photo by Rosmadi Hassan (Wings Among Us)

Common name:
fire-tufted barbet (en); barbudo-de-coleira (pt); barbu à collier (fr); barbudo picofuego (es); rotbüschel-bartvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Piciformes
Family Capitonidae

Range:
This species is found in de Indonesian island of Sumatra and in the Malay Peninsula in Malaysia and marginally into Thailand.

Size:
These birds are 30 cm long and weigh 115-140 g.

Habitat:
The fire-tufted barbet is found in moist tropical forests at altitudes of 400-2.000 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on fruits, particularly figs, but also take some insects.

Breeding:
Fire-tufted barbets breed in February-May. They nest in a hole excavated by both sexes on a dead tree trunk or branch. The female lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 13-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge about 40 days after hatching, but continue to receive food for the parents for at least another week.

Conservation:
IUCN status – LC (Least Concern)
this species has a large breeding range and is reported to be uncommon to locally common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction within its range.