White-cheeked Barbet
Psilopogon viridis
The White-cheeked Barbet (Psilopogon viridis) is a common asian barbet found only in India, weighing about 81 g. The white-cheeked barbet or small green barbet is a species of Asian barbet found in southern India.
About the White-cheeked Barbet
The white-cheeked barbet or small green barbet is a species of Asian barbet found in southern India. It is very similar to the more widespread brown-headed barbet, but this species has a distinctive supercilium and a broad white cheek stripe below the eye and is found in the forest areas of the Western Ghats, parts of the Eastern Ghats and adjoining hills. The brown-headed barbet has an orange eye-ring but the calls are very similar and the two species occur together in some of the drier forests to the east of the Western Ghats. Like all other Asian barbets, they are mainly frugivorous, and use their bills to excavate nest cavities in trees.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The white-cheeked barbet is 16.5–18.5 cm (6.5–7.3 in) in length. It has a brownish head streaked with white, sometimes giving it a capped appearance. The bill is pale pink. Size varies from the larger northern birds to the southern ones. Like many other Asian barbets, white-cheeked barbets are green, sit still, and perch upright, making them difficult to spot. During the breeding season which begins at the start of summer their calls become loud and constant especially in the mornings. The call, a monotonous Kot-roo...Kotroo...
What the White-cheeked Barbet sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The White-cheeked Barbet can be seen all year round, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a White-cheeked Barbet?
- The white-cheeked barbet is 16.5–18.5 cm (6.5–7.3 in) in length. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-cheeked Barbet?
- The White-cheeked Barbet is a medium sized bird weighing about 81 g.
- Where can you see a White-cheeked Barbet?
- The White-cheeked Barbet is endemic to India, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What does a White-cheeked Barbet sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the White-cheeked Barbet on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a White-cheeked Barbet?
- The White-cheeked Barbet is most easily confused with the Coppersmith Barbet, the Taiwan Barbet and the Brown-headed Barbet.
- Is the White-cheeked Barbet endangered?
- The White-cheeked Barbet is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the White-cheeked Barbet for real
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