Pandit debotosh dey at 07:55, 6 December 2025

2025-12-06T07:55:12Z

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{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |title=''Psilopogon asiaticus'' |author=BirdLife International |author-link=BirdLife International |date=2016 |article-number=e.T61469878A95169030 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T61469878A95169030.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Blue-throated Barbet Sasatgre West Garo crop Oct24 A7CR 03684.jpg
| image_caption = Foraging on a fruiting tree in [[Meghalaya]]
| genus = Psilopogon
| species = asiaticus
| authority = ([[John Latham (ornithologist)|Latham]], 1790)
| synonyms = ''Cyanops davisoni''<br />''Megalaima asiatica''
| range_map = Psilopogon asiaticus IUCN range.png
| range_map_caption = Distribution of the blue-throated barbet
}}

The '''blue-throated barbet''' ('''''Psilopogon asiaticus''''') is a green [[Megalaimidae|Asian barbet]] native to the foothills of the [[Himalaya]]s and [[Southeast Asia]]. It inhabits lowland and montane forests at elevations of {{Cvt|200-2000|m}}, frequenting fruiting trees.<ref name=iucn/> Due to its green colour, it is difficult to spot but is easily located by its continual loud calls. Sexes are similar in most respects and share domestic duties.

== Taxonomy ==
[[File:Megalaima asiatica - 1825-1834 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - Special Collections University of Amsterdam - UBA01 IZ18800050.tif|left|thumb|Painting ca. 1825 to 1834]]
The Blue-throated Barbet was originally placed in the genus ''Cyanops'' by Latham in 1790. This was subsequently synonymized with ''[[Psilopogon|Megalaima]]''. In 2013, [[Phylogenetics|phylogenetic]] studies indicated that ''[[Psilopogon]]'' is embedded within ''Megalaima''. ''Psilopogon'' has priority, hence the genus ''Megalaima'' was subsumed into ''Psilopogon''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=den Tex |first1=R-J |last2=Leonard |first2=J.A. |date=1 July 2013 |title=A molecular phylogeny of Asian barbets: Speciation and extinction in the tropics |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1055790313001012 |journal=[[Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution]] |publisher=[[Elsevier]] |volume=68 |issue=1 |pages=1–13|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2013.03.004 |pmid=23511217 |bibcode=2013MolPE..68....1D |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The Blue-throated Barbet has previously been considered [[Biological specificity|conspecific]] with the [[Turquoise-throated barbet|Turquoise-throated Barbet]] (''Psilopogon chersonesus'') and the [[Mountain barbet|Mountain Barbet]] (''Psilopogon monticola'') (11), but molecular data confirm that these are distinct species.<ref name="BOW_BlueBarbet" /><ref name="IOC_Bird_List_14.2">{{Cite web |last1=Gill |first1=F. |last2=Donsker |first2=D. |last3=Rasmussen |first3=P. |date=17 August 2024 |title=IOC World Bird List v14.2: BOW (Birds of the World) |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/ |access-date=23 October 2024 |website=worldbirdnames.org}}</ref>

''Psilopogon asiaticus'' has two sub-species:<ref name="BOW_BlueBarbet" /><ref name="IOC_Bird_List_14.2" />
* Red-crowned blue-throated barbet ''P.a. asiaticus'' (Latham, 1790) is resident from NE [[Pakistan]] to W, N [[Myanmar]] and SW [[Yunnan]]
* Blue-crowned blue-throated barbet ''P.a. davisoni'' (Hume, 1877) is resident from SE Myanmar to SE Yunnan and N [[Mainland Southeast Asia|Indochina]]

== Description ==
[[File:Blue-throated Barbet (कुथुर्के) crop.jpg|thumb|left|Juvenile in [[Nepal]]]]
The blue-throated barbet is a non-migratory, arboreal medium-sized barbet, about the size of a [[myna]] {{Cvt|19-22|cm}}. Sexes are similar though the female is slightly heavier with {{Cvt|87-103|g}} than the male with {{Cvt|79-100|g}}. It is a stocky, green bird with a short tail. The undersides are a lighter yellow-green. The underside of the tail may have a bluish cast. The head and neck are distinctive, with a bright red forehead, black stripe across the crown and red rear crown. The sides of the face, chin and upper neck are pale blue. Red patches are seen on the sides of the neck at the base of the blue. The iris is reddish-brown and the eye-ring is brown, greenish-brown, orange-brown or yellow. The feet are slate-gray to gray-green. The stout, conical bill is pale at the base with a dark upper mandible and tip.<ref name="SalimAli_Indian2012"/><ref name="BOW_BlueBarbet" /><ref name="GrimmettInskipp">{{Cite book|last1=Grimmett|first1=R.|title=Birds of the Indian Subcontinent|last2=Inskipp|first2=C.|last3=Inskipp|first3=T.|publisher=[[Christopher Helm]]|year=2011|isbn=978-81-933150-9-5|location=London|pages=}}</ref>

Juveniles are similar to the adults, with muted and dull colours. The red may be tinged with orange, the black may be blue-black or dusky.<ref name="BOW_BlueBarbet" />

==Distribution and habitat==
The blue-throated barbet is a resident breeder in the Lower Himalayas from northeastern [[Pakistan]] through [[North India|northern]] and [[northeastern India]], and in the hill ranges of [[Southeast Asia]]. It is a common inhabitant of lowland and foothill tropical, evergreen and deciduous forests, typically between {{Cvt|200-2000|m}}. It is adaptable to secondary forests and even urban areas provided fruiting trees are readily available.<ref name="SalimAli_Indian2012"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Blue-throated Barbet - ''Psilopogon asiaticus'' |url=https://ebird.org/species/bltbar2 |date=2024 |website=ebird.org |publisher=[[eBird]] |access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref> In [[Mizoram]], it is uncommon in oil plantations, presumably due to the lack of fruit-bearing trees.<ref name="BOW_BlueBarbet"/>

== Behaviour and ecology ==
{{multiple image
|perrow=2/1
|total_width=400
|image1=Blue-throated Barbet in Rabindra Sarobar February 2024 by Tisha Mukherjee 01.jpg
|caption1=Eating in [[Rabindra Sarobar]], West Bengal, India.
|image2=Blue Throated Barbet.jpg
|caption2=Pair at a nest in a tree trunk
|image3=Blue-throated Barbet in Rabindra Sarobar March 2025 by Tisha Mukherjee.mpg
|caption3=Making a hole in a tree for nesting in [[Rabindra Sarobar]], India
}}
The blue-throated barbet has a noisy, undulating flight. The flight consists of a few rapid beats of its wings, then a brief pause. It calls frequently throughout the day. Due to its green colour it blends into the canopy so the loud, frequent calls are often the only indication of its presence. The calls consisting of the notes ''took-a-rook'', ''pu-ku-ruk'', ''kut-ru-uk'' are repeated 90-105 times per minute.<ref name="SalimAli_Indian2012"/><ref name="BOW_BlueBarbet"/>

=== Diet ===
The blue-throated barbet feeds on fruits and berries, especially figs of ''Ficus'' species. It is often seen in the upper canopy of fruiting trees, singly and in groups. It also eats insect larvae, [[Cricket (insect)|crickets]], [[Mantidae|mantids]] and large [[Centipede|centipedes]] while perched, and sometimes catches [[Termite|flying termites]] in the air.<ref name="SalimAli_Indian2012">{{Cite book|last=Ali|first=S.|title=The Book of Indian Birds|publisher=[[Bombay Natural History Society]]|year=2012|isbn=978-0-19-566523-9|edition=13th|location=New Delhi|pages=}}</ref><ref name="BOW_BlueBarbet">{{Cite web |last=Krishnan |first=A. |date=2023 |editor-last=Sly |editor-first=N.D. |title=Blue-throated Barbet (''Psilopogon asiaticus''), version 2.0 |url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/bltbar2/cur/foodhabits |access-date=22 October 2024 |website=[[Birds of the World]] |publisher=[[Cornell Lab of Ornithology]]}}</ref>

=== Breeding ===
Both parents share the duties of nest building, incubation and rearing of the young. While courting, pairs feed and vocalise together. Display during courting includes bobbing and twisting of the head and wagging of the tail.
The nesting season is March to June. Nests are made by excavating holes in tree trunks and sloping branches. The nests are usually between {{Cvt|3-7.5|m}} above the ground. Dead tree trunks are also used. The nest may be lined with wood chips and sometimes grasses. Nests are reused over several years. Old nests of woodpeckers may be taken over.

The female lays 3-4 matte white eggs. The eggs are incubated for 14 days with both parents ensuring continuous incubation. After the chicks hatch, they remain with the parents for a short duration only.<ref name="SalimAli_Indian2012"/><ref name="BOW_BlueBarbet"/>

== Conservation and threats ==
The blue-throated barbet is not threatened, but categorised as [[Least-concern species|Least Concern]] on the [[IUCN Red List]], as the population is thought to be stable. It is a common bird in northeast India.<ref name=iucn/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web |author=BirdLife International |year=2021 |title=Species factsheet:: Blue-throated Barbet ''Psilopogon asiaticus'' |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/blue-throated-barbet-psilopogon-asiaticus |work=Birdlife Datazone}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1260143}}

[[Category:Psilopogon|blue-throated barbet]]
[[Category:Birds of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Birds of the Himalayas]]
[[Category:Birds of Northeast India]]
[[Category:Birds of Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Birds of Yunnan]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1790|blue-throated barbet]]
[[Category:Birds of Myanmar]]

Blue-throated barbet - Revision history

Pandit debotosh dey at 07:55, 6 December 2025