Coppersmith Barbet

BARBETS are related slightly to woodpeckers, both groups have strong bills and feet and nest in tree cavities. Barbets, however, feed mainly on fruits, while woodpeckers hammer into dead wood and bark for ants, termites and larvae. Barbets are colourful and attractive forest birds, but most species live mainly high in large trees, and getting good views of them is difficult. They usually move inside the foliage and are best located and identified by calls.

Location: NUS Kent Ridge

The Coppersmith Barbet is a common resident that prefers open-country habitats. It is found in parks and gardens, on the fringes of mangroves and even in busy heartland districts. This species often goes unnoticed due to its small size and habit of perching on the top of tall trees.

Though this bird is typically solitary, groups of more than ten have occasionally been seen at fruiting trees. Close up, this bird is a gem with its red forecrown and breastband, brilliant yellow throat and reddish feet. Plummage is dark green with streaked buff and green abdomen. 

Call a repetitive choink, choink, choink, of metallic tone, more than one note per second, sounding like a coppersmith's hammer. The only brightly coloured barbet of open areas. Found in scattered trees in open country, secondary growth, gardens.

The nest is built in typical barbet fashion, inside the cavity of a tree trunk. It can be seen feeding in fruiting trees.

Source: Davidson & Chew (2007) Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore; Ong K.S. (2008) A Passion for Birds; Lee T.K. (2010) Birds in the Garden City.