Golden-throated Barbet

The Golden-throated Barbet, Megalaima franklinii, is an Asian barbet. Barbets are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.

The Golden-throated Barbet is a resident breeder in the hills from northeast India east to southwestern China, Malaysia and Vietnam. It is a species of broadleaf evergreen forest from 900–2565 m altitude. It nests in a tree hole.

This barbet is 20.5-23.5 cm in length. It is a plump bird, with a short neck, large head and short tail. The bill is dark, and the body plumage is green, but the subspecies have different head patterns. The adult northern nominate form has a red and yellow crown, black eyestripe, white lower face neck, and yellow throat. The sexes are similar, but the juvenile is duller with a weaker head pattern.

• M. f. franklinii, the nominate race, occurs from India east to northern Laos and southwestern China,
• M. f. ramsayi is found in central and eastern Myanmar and northern and western Thailand. It has a grey lower throat and grey-streaked black ear coverts.
• M. f. trangensis occurs in peninsular Thailand. It resembles the nominate form.
• M. f. minor occurs in the mountains of Malaysia. It resembles the nominate form, but has some blue behind the ear coverts.
• M. f. auricularis is found in the highlands of southern and central Cambodia, central Laos and Vietnam. It resembles the nominate form, but has some blue behind the ear coverts.

The male’s territorial call is a very loud pukwowk.

References

• Birdlife International
• Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, Birds of India ISBN 0-691-04910-6
• Robson, Craig A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand ISBN 1843309211
• Ripley, The Barbets The Auk Vol 62 (1945)