Taiwan barbet

Taiwan barbet
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 species of bird endemic to the island of Taiwan.

Taxonomy

It was formerly considered a subspecies of the black-browed barbet[2] (Psilopogon oorti) and placed in the genus Megalaima.[1]

Description

It is about 20 cm (7.9 in) long. The plumage is mostly green.[3] The lore has a red spot. The ear-coverts and lower malar are blue. The throat is mustard yellow.[2] The forehead is yellow. There is a black stripe above the eye. The beak is black and thick.[4] The breast has a blue band and a red band.[2] The belly is yellowish-green. The feet are greyish. The sexes are alike.[4]

Name

The Chinese name for the bird means "five-colored bird" (simplified Chinese: 五色鸟; traditional Chinese: 五色鳥; pinyin: wuseniao), referring to the five colors 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.[5]

Habitat and ecology

It is commonly found in forests at elevations of up to 2,800 m (9,200 ft).[2] It feeds on fruits and insects. The breeding season is from March to August.[4] It nests in tree cavities. It may use an existing cavity or excavate one.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2012). "Psilopogon nuchalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Collar, N. J. (2006). "A taxonomic reappraisal of the Black-browed Barbet Megalaima oorti" (PDF). Forktail. Oriental Bird Club. 22: 170–173.
  3. 1 2 "Black-browed Barbet". Birding in Taiwan. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Psilopogon nuchalis (Gould, 1863)". Taiwan Encyclopedia of Life (in Chinese). Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "五色鳥保育" (in Chinese). Retrieved 26 September 2016.
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