Gold-whiskered Barbet
Psilopogon chrysopogon
Bright yellow cheek stands out like a sunburst on the muddy-looking face of this barbet. Traces of red and blue also brighten the head of this heavy-billed green bird. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests. Like many other barbets, forages sluggishly high up in the forest canopy, and can be difficult to see; listen instead for its song, a series of echoing rhythmic “woo-ooh” notes, sometimes combined with trilled hoots.
Identification
The golden-whiskered barbet has a green plumage of various hues. On both sides of the black beak it has a yellow moustache that extends to the ear canal. Its throat is blue, and it has small blue and red spots on the head. Its eyes are also surrounded by blue. Its forecrown is pale yellow, with red patches on both sides of the beak. It is 30 cm (12 in) long and weighs 110–215 g (3.9–7.6 oz).Female and male are similar in appearance but display a small degree of sexual dichromatism in that the beaks of the female appear paler with a dusky bluish color. Before reaching maturity birds of both sexes have duller overall plumage.
Taxonomy
Bucco chrysopogon was the scientific name proposed by Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1824 for a gold-whiskered barbet from Sumatra.Asian barbets were placed in the genus Megalaima proposed by George Robert Gray in 1842 who suggested to use this name instead of Bucco.Megalaima chrysopsis proposed by Andreas Goffin in 1863 was based on two gold-whiskered barbets collected in Borneo.Chrotorhea chrysopogon laetus proposed by Herbert C. Robinson and C. Boden Kloss in 1918 was a gold-whiskered barbet collected at Mount Kerinci in Sumatra.Three golden-whiskered barbet subspecies are recognized as of 2014:
- Scientific name
- Psilopogon chrysopogon
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1824)
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Megalaimidae
- Genus
- Psilopogon
Range and habitat
The golden-whiskered barbet ranges from the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo, where it inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and montane forest. It has also been sighted in cacao plantation and second growth forests but is rare in evergreen and swamp forests.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Vanellus albiceps
This striking lapwing is best identified by its long yellow wattles, white belly, and gray head split down the center by a broad white crown stripe. In flight, the distinctive wings are almost entirely white with black tips. It prefers breeding and foraging on large permanent rivers with extensive sand banks but will also wander to smaller streams and pans. It utters a loud “kriiip” call when alarmed or defending its territory. The similar Wattled Lapwing differs from White-headed Lapwing by having a dark belly and red-based wattles.
Radde's Warbler
Phylloscopus schwarzi
Small, chunky songbird. Brown overall with a pale throat, thick pinkish bill, and a black-bordered white supercilium that is buff-tinged in front. The smaller Dusky Warbler has brownish tinge toward the back of the brow. The similar Yellow-streaked Warbler is a grayer shade of brown, has a clean white supercilium, and has different vocalizations. Favors open taiga forest and forest edge for breeding, often in wet brushy thickets or along streams. Sings from both exposed and hidden perches, giving a ringing trill with several variations. Difficult to detect on the wintering grounds, where it skulks in dense vegetation in both wet and dry areas; listen for its frequently repeated “chuk” and “pit” calls.
Western Screech-Owl
Megascops kennicottii
Pint-sized, cryptically patterned gray owl with fine streaks of black and white; short ear tufts. Found in a variety of wooded habitats, but favors riparian and deciduous areas. Can be found in urban areas and parks. Feeds mostly on small mammals, birds, and insects. Nests in cavities. Listen for its voice at night: a series of short whistled notes that accelerates at the end. Unlike counterpart, Eastern Screech-Owl, they do not have a rufous color morph, only gray morph.
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