Introduction to Crimson Fronted Barbet
The crimson fronted barbet (Megalaima rubricapillus) is a species of bird in the Megalaimidae family. It is found in forests and gardens across much of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and parts of East Asia. In Sinhala, it is known as “rathu muhuna kottoruwa”.
The crimson fronted barbet gets its name from the bright red forehead and crown of the adult birds. The rest of the head, throat and breast are black, while the back and wings are green. The tail is blue and the belly is yellow. Males and females look alike. They have stout bright yellow bills with a small brush-tipped black tongue that helps them feed on fruit and insects.
Distribution and Habitat of Crimson Fronted Barbets
The crimson fronted barbet has a wide distribution across South and Southeast Asia. The countries where it can be found include:
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Vietnam
In Sri Lanka, the crimson fronted barbet is a resident breeding bird found across most of the island nation. Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
These colorful birds can adapt well to human habitats. They are commonly found in home gardens, orchards, city parks and tree-lined streets. However, they avoid dense primary rainforests.
Behavior and Diet
The crimson fronted barbet is arboreal, spending most of its time in trees and occasionally venturing to the ground. It can be seen solitary or in small groups, frequently making a distinctive “ku-doo ku-doo” call.
It is omnivorous, feeding on a diet that includes:
- Fruit
- Berries
- Seeds
- Nectar
- Insects
- Spiders
- Centipedes
- Lizards
- Frogs
The barbets use their sturdy beaks to cut, hammer and pry open fruit and break into wood to extract insects, larvae and sap. They sometimes hang upside down like a woodpecker to access food sources.
Breeding and Nesting
The breeding season of the crimson fronted barbet coincides with the southwest monsoon in Sri Lanka from May to August. During courtship displays, the male frequently feeds the female.
The birds nest in holes bored into the soft dead wood of trees like coconut palms, rain trees and Parseon’s tree. The entrance to the nest hole is only just large enough for the birds to slip through. Inside, a chamber is hollowed out for the nest.
A typical clutch contains 2-4 eggs which are glossy white with a pink tinge when laid, slowly staining brown. The female incubates the eggs alone for 13-15 days before they hatch. Both parents feed the chicks and take turns brooding them. The young fledge in about 27-30 days.
Conservation Status
The crimson fronted barbet has a very wide distribution range and large global population estimated between 1 million to 10 million individuals. Although its numbers are decreasing gradually due to habitat loss, the rate of decline is not steep enough to trigger threatened status.
The IUCN Red List classifies the crimson fronted barbet as a species of Least Concern. However, trade of wild-caught barbets as pets, poaching and loss of nesting trees pose localized threats in some parts of its range.
Interesting Facts About Crimson Fronted Barbets
Here are some fascinating facts about the crimson fronted barbets:
- Crimson fronted barbets are important seed dispersers. By feeding on fruit, they swallow seeds which pass through their digestive system and are then deposited through their droppings in a new location to germinate.
- They produce a special kind of red saliva or “blood tears” when nesting which stains and hardens to form a protective barrier sealing their nest hole.
- Both the male and female birds roost inside the nest hole at night. They are monogamous and pair for life.
- Young barbets have a duller plumage with a black forehead. They acquire the striking red crown around 3-6 months of age.
- These birds are named barbets due to their thick bushy bristles around the base of the beak resembling a beard.
- They have sturdy feet with two toes pointing forward and two toes pointing backward that allow them to easily climb and cling onto trees.
- When singing, they throw their heads back, pointing their beaks to the sky.
- They can imitate sounds like telephone rings and bike horns.
Conclusion
In summary, the crimson fronted barbet is a colorful frugivorous bird found across Sri Lanka’s forests and gardens. Locally known as “rathu muhuna kottoruwa” in Sinhala, it has a red forehead and crown, black face and throat, green wings and back, blue tail and yellow underparts. It nests in holes bored into dead trees and has an important ecological role as a seed disperser. Though abundant, habitat loss remains a concern for the conservation of this species. The crimson fronted barbet is a delightful and familiar sight in both rural and urban areas of Sri Lanka.
