Great Barbet
Psilopogon virens
The Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens) is a uncommon asian barbet found in 11 countries, weighing about 202 g. The great barbet is an Asian barbet native to the Indian sub-continent and Southeast Asia, where it inhabits forests up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) altitude.
About the Great Barbet
The great barbet is an Asian barbet native to the Indian sub-continent and Southeast Asia, where it inhabits forests up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) altitude. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2004 because of its wide distribution.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The great barbet has a blue head, large yellow bill, brown and green-streaked body, belly and a red vent. The plumage is green. It is the largest barbet species with a body length of 32–35 cm (13–14 in) and a weight of 192–295 g (6.8–10.4 oz).
What the Great Barbet sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, October, November, December, with peak activity in April. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Great Barbet?
- The great barbet has a blue head, large yellow bill, brown and green-streaked body, belly and a red vent. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Great Barbet?
- The Great Barbet is a medium sized bird weighing about 202 g.
- Where can you see a Great Barbet?
- The Great Barbet occurs in 11 countries, including India, Nepal, Thailand, Bhutan and China.
- What does a Great Barbet sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Great Barbet on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Great Barbet?
- The Great Barbet is most easily confused with the Lineated Barbet, the Blue-throated Barbet and the Malabar Barbet.
- Is the Great Barbet endangered?
- The Great Barbet is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Great Barbet for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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