BIRDWALKERMONDAY

This Blog contains Wildlife and Bird Photos from Walks, Safaris, Birding Trips and Vacations. Most of the pictures have been taken with my Nikon P900 and P950X cameras. On the right of the page are labels for each species of Bird/Animal etc. Click on a label and it will show all of the photos taken for that species. I am adding as much information for each species as I can from sources Wikipedia. To see any pictures at full size just click on the picture.

Showing posts with label COPPERSMITH BARBET (Psilopogon haemacephalus). Show all posts

Saturday 18 May 2024

17-4-2023 KEN RIVERSIDE LODGE, INDIA - COPPERSMITH BARBET (Psilopogon haemacephalus)

The Coppersmith barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus) is an Asian barbet known for its metronomic call that sounds similar to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. These birds live in areas with woods where they can excavate holes to build their nests.

The Coppersmith barbet is green with a red head, yellow cheeks, and a yellow throat. Its underparts are streaked in grey and black. During the nesting season, the wear and tear on the feathers can cause the plumage of the upper back to appear bluish.

Coppersmith barbets are found in South and Southeast Asia. They inhabit gardens, groves, and sparse woodland. In northern India, they occur in the valleys of the outer Himalayas and are rare in northwestern Indian states and in wet forests in Assam.

Coppersmith barbet live singly or in small groups. They may sometimes gather in larger parties in abundantly fruiting Ficus trees. They are diurnal birds and can often be seen sunning in the morning on bare top branches of tall trees, often flitting about to sit next to each other. Their flight is straight, with rapid flaps. Coppersmith barbets roost at night in their nest holes; some birds roost alone in cavities and often roost during part of the day. Immatures roost with the parents but often return to roost early so as not to be prevented by the parents from entering the roost cavity. The call of Coppersmith barbets is a loud rather metallic 'tuk…tuk…tuk' (or 'tunk'). The beak remains shut during each call - a patch of bare skin on both sides of the throat inflates and collapses with each 'tuk' like a rubber bulb and the head is bobbed. During the winter Coppersmith barbets are silent and do not call.

Coppersmith barbets are monogamous and form pairs. Their breeding season takes place through much of the year and varies depending on location. It is mainly February to April in India and December to September in Sri Lanka. Males attract females by singing, puffing of the throat, bobbing of the head, flicking of the tail, ritual feeding, and allopreening. After the pair was formed, both partners excavate the nest on the underside of a narrow horizontal branch. They also roost inside the nest holes. The female lays 3-4 eggs and both parents incubate them for about 2 weeks. The checks hatch blind and helpless. They are fed and tended by both parents. The chicks fledge around 35 days after hatching and become independent. Coppersmith barbets often raise two broods in quick succession.

Coppersmith barbets are herbivores (frugivores) and prefer banyan, peepul, and other wild figs, various drupes and berries, and flower petals. They can also catch insects on the wing.