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Portrait of a bird: Red-crowned Barbet

on 4th December 2008

Like most barbets, the Red-crowned Barbet (Megalaima rafflesii) is brightly coloured (left top). It has a green body and a striking head colouration of blue, black, yellow and red. The juvenile tends to be duller, with a less defined head pattern, becoming brighter with maturity. The bill is characteristically stout and pointed with long rictal bristles that project from the base of the bill (left bottom). The neck is characteristically short and their feet are strong and powerful.

With such large and powerful feet, stocky build and stout, pointed bill, barbets can afford to be aggressive, and they are aggressive birds – at times even belligerent.

It can also be a noisy birds with a peculiar call consisting of one to two took notes followed after a pause by up to 20 rapidly repeated shorter tuk. Such monotonous call is basically a male territorial declaration. As it calls, it may turns its head to give a ventriloquist effect.

The bird is predominantly frugivorous. Large fruits may be mashed up with the beak and then swallowed. If large seeds are swallowed with the fruit, they are later regurgitated, usually when they are about to sing. On the other hand smaller seeds are passed with the faeces. However, mistletoe seeds may be regurgitated. Figs are a favourite, especially the benjamin fig (Ficus benjamina).

Barbets are generally fast fliers, flying in an undulating manner with the wings making a whirring sound. They are primary hole-nesters. They excavate cavities on dead and rotting tree trunk and branches to nest and roost in. They do not use abandoned nest cavities of other birds like in the case of the kingfishers and parakeets. The reason why barbets rise moderately early and retire rather early in the evening can be because their nests are generally free from pests and parasites that plague secondary hole-nesters.

The different sexes are generally not distinguishable.

Johnny Wee, Chan Yoke Meng & YC Wee
Singapore
December 2008
(Top image by Johnny Wee, bottom by Chan Yoke Meng)

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

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