Taiwan barbet

Taiwan barbet
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Piciformes
Family:	Megalaimidae
Genus:	Psilopogon
Species:	P. nuchalis
Binomial name
Psilopogon nuchalis Gould, 1863
Synonyms
Megalaima nuchalis (Gould, 1863)

The Taiwan barbet (Psilopogon nuchalis) is a bird endemic to the island of Taiwan. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Black-browed Barbet (P. oorti).

It is 20–23.5 cm (7.9–9.3 in) long. The plumage is mostly green apart from the head which is patterned with blue, yellow and red. There is a black stripe above the eye. The bill is black and the feet are grey-green. The Chinese name for the bird, "five-colored bird" (五色鳥), refers to the five colors seen on its plumage. Because of its colorful plumage and that its call resembles that of a percussion instrument known as a wooden fish, the species is also referred to as the "spotted monk of the forest" in Taiwan.

Taiwan barbet

It inhabits tropical and subtropical forests. It forages in the upper and middle levels of the canopy. It excavates a nest hole in a tree but little else is known about its breeding habits.

References

1. BirdLife International (2012). "Psilopogon nuchalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 27 March 2015.