If travelers arrive in the Indian subcontinent and explore tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, they will likely be encountered by charming bird species. These guys have beautiful feathered covering and highly distinctive calls "kutrook-kutrook-kutrook".
Source: Ashley Wahlberg (Tubbs), Macaulay Library ML 62826551
Though they are heard more often than seen (except in winter), they can be founded easily from the Terai in southern Nepal in the north to Sri Lanka in the south. People see them in urban and country gardens since they avoid heavy forests.
Source: Painted Stork, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
They are
brown-headed barbet (
Psilopogon zeylanicus) with prominent pale streaks on their brown heads and breasts. It is 27 cm (11 in) long with a large head, short neck, and short tail. The brown throat and green wings with white speckling on the shoulders are characteristic of this species.
Source: T_Monk
Source: Kavi Nanda
The rest of their plumage is green. Also, the large area of dull yellow facial skin and the thick brown-yellow bill will turn orange-red when breeding. Immature is similar but duller.
Source: Gerhard Tauscher
Source: Nimali Digo & Thilanka Edirisinghe
Brown-headed barbets eat fruits (mangoes, ripe jackfruit, papaya, banana, figs) and insects and nest in suitable tree holes often excavated. Each pair lays about two-four eggs, and both parent birds hatch their eggs while using their Kura, kura calls to communicate.
Source: T_Monk
Source: Charles J. Sharp
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, brown-headed barbet is eligible to be birdie ambassadors in India. If you like to read more about various feathered friends, please visit our
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