67.Coppersmith Barbet

Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala)


The Coppersmith Barbet is a bird with crimson forehead and throat which is best known for its "metronomic call" (I did not hear it, that is what wikipedia and local birding sites call it so) that has been likened to a a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer.
The beak remains shut during each call - a patch of bare skin on both sides of the throat inflates and collapses with each tuk like a rubber bulb, with much body and tail shaking. Not very vocal in cold weather - a spell of rain or cold immediately silences them, but it is "one of India's most familiar sounds in the hot season.

The red forehead, yellow eye-ring and throat patch with streaked underside and green upperparts, it is fairly distinctive.


It is a resident found in South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia.


Like other barbets, they chisel out a hole inside a tree to build their nest. They are mainly fruit eating but will take insects.


This was a group of 4 birds... flew in suddenly to be photographed and flew off the same way.