Photo: Ajith U / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Malabar Barbet
Psilopogon malabaricus
Malabar Barbet (Psilopogon malabaricus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of South & Southeast Asia.
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The Malabar Barbet (Psilopogon malabaricus) is a member of the Megalaimidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 37.6 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 malabaricus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 37.6 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Megalaimidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Malabar 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 Malabar Barbet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Malabar Barbet (Psilopogon malabaricus) is a member of the Megalaimidae family, within the order Piciformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR sw India.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 37.6 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 3.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 103,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Malabar Barbet?
The Malabar Barbet is a small bird that weighs around 37.6 g.
Where does the Malabar Barbet live?
The Malabar Barbet is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR sw India, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Malabar Barbet belong to?
The Malabar Barbet (Psilopogon malabaricus) belongs to the Megalaimidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Malabar Barbet eat?
The Malabar Barbet is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Malabar Barbet migrate?
The Malabar Barbet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Malabar 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 Malabar Barbet make?
1 real field recording of the Malabar Barbet — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Malabar Barbet's range?
The Malabar Barbet has a mapped global range of about 103,000 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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