Coppersmith Barbet

Coppersmith Barbet

Scientific Name: Psilopogon haemacephalus

Malay Name: Takur Tukang Biasa

Chinese Name: 赤胸拟啄木鸟

Range: Found from the Indian subcontinent to Southern China and Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: indicus, delicus, roseus, haemacephalus, celestinoi, mindanensis, intermedius, cebuensis, homochroa.

Local Subspecies: indicus

Size: 17 cm

Identification: Adult has stout blackish bill, reddish legs, bright green uppeparts, greenish-white underparts with green streaks, yellow face and throat with black eye-stripe, reddish forecrown and small red patch at upper breast. Juvenile looks duller and lacks the reddish parts of the adult.

Habitat: Gardens, parks, mangroves and suitable wooded areas but not forest.

Behaviour/Ecology: Its call sounds like a coppersmith hitting copper sheets.

Local Status: Common resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Chinese/Japanese Gardens, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Bidadari, Jurong ECO Garden, Pasir Ris Park, Bishan Park and other suitable parks, gardens and wooded areas.

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Psilopogon haemacephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22681681A92916283.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

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