Photo: J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown-headed Barbet
Psilopogon zeylanicus
Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of South & Southeast Asia.
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The Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus) is a member of the Megalaimidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 119 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Megalaimidae Asian Barbets
- Genus Psilopogon
- Species zeylanicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 119 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Megalaimidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown-headed Barbet is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Brown-headed Barbet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus) belongs to the Megalaimidae family of the order Piciformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India and Sri Lanka.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 119 g, with a wing length of about 10.9 cm and a tail of around 6.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown-headed Barbet?
The Brown-headed Barbet is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 119 g.
Where does the Brown-headed Barbet live?
The Brown-headed Barbet is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India and Sri Lanka, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Brown-headed Barbet belong to?
The Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus) belongs to the Megalaimidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Brown-headed Barbet eat?
The Brown-headed Barbet is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Brown-headed Barbet migrate?
The Brown-headed Barbet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown-headed Barbet endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Brown-headed Barbet make?
1 real field recording of the Brown-headed Barbet — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Brown-headed Barbet's range?
The Brown-headed Barbet has a mapped global range of about 2.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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