If there is ever a bird that can rival even a hulk in roaring aloud, then that birdy has to be the Brown-Headed Barbet. This little creature’s blaring decibels can screech through the morning silence and can knock anyone out of their afternoon siesta as well. Its challenging, almost enticing, avian call proceeds like: tur-r-r-r kutrook-kutrook-kutrook.
But barely a glance at this handsome can assure you that its personality is even more influential. The ‘barbet’ has earned its family name from the barb-like whiskers around the base of its beak. This peachy-pink bill is heavy in structure. It contrasts with the Barbet's grass-green body. The short and slender tail looks disproportionately small in comparison to the body of the barbet. In his/her under-tail area are noticeable its dull bluish coverts (the small and soft feathers that cover the base of tail feathers). Surprisingly, the barbet can change the colour around its eye from a bright lemon-yellow to dark orange within seconds.
Further, there are white streaks spread over its brown head, neck, breast, and upper back. These white streaks discontinue towards its shoulders, belly, and flanks (sides of lower belly). But the presence of white speckles on the shoulders of the Brown-Headed Barbets differentiates them from their close relatives, Lineated Barbets.
Nonetheless, the Brown-Headed Barbets make a gorgeous couple. Both husband and wife are identical and are found widely across the Indian subcontinent. They often migrate seasonally to lower elevated areas, and even nest in urban spaces and gardens. In fact, they are highly territorial in nature and guard their nests aggressively. Frugivorous in diet, they feed upon wild ficus figs, such as banyan and peepal, along with a few other drupes, berries, flower petals, and nectar. At times, they also consume insects to fulfill their protein requirements.
Though the brown and green cover of the barbets perfectly blends them with the woods, it still cannot protect them from the lustful eyes of preying hunters. Apart from the glaring habitat degradation, capturing them for pet trade is threatening their population. But before the barbets feel endangered further, lets welcome their roaring call with this onset of summer.
(Photo credits: Athiya Mahapatra)
(This was first published in the 1-31 March 2022 edition of the Gobar Times.)
An amateur ornithologist and closely follows the avian world.