MALABAR BARBET

In Tamilnadu there are 4 types of Barbets. They are Brown-headed Barbet, White-cheeked Barbet, Malabar and Coppersmith Barbets. While the Brown-headed is the biggest, Malabar and the Coppersmith barbets are smaller and are of the size of a house sparrow.  Barbets are noisy often sitting on the top of the trees and making repetitive noises.  So it is easily identifiable.

In the Plains of India, it is always possible to see a Coppersmith Barbet making continuous tuk tuk noise, sitting on the top of a tree. Their noises become louder at mating season. They are Olive green birds, with forehead and a small breast patch in crimson colour.

The White cheeked and Brown headed barbets are found in the cool climate. They are found often in the thickly vegetated hilly regions. Both look similar excepting the Brown headed Barbet a little bigger in size.

Of all, the Malabar Barbet looks more colourful and is endemic to the Western Ghats. They are also noisy birds with Olive green body, bright red coloured cheeks and breast. A blue band also runs in the side of the head.

I found a Malabar Barbet during my visit to Siruvani in October, 2015 and I am posting the picture. You can also enjoy and the next time you visit a thickly wooded hills of the Western Ghats, you may look out for this small bird.