BARBETS CAPITONIDAE

The coppersmith barbet, crimson-breasted barbet or coppersmith (Psilopogon haemacephalus), is a bird with crimson forehead and throat which is best known for its metronomic call that has been likened to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. It is a resident found in the Indian subcontinent 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 sometimes insects, especially winged termites.

The crimson-fronted barbet or Ceylon small barbet or small barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus) is an Asian barbet endemic to Sri Lanka. The Malabar barbet endemic to the Western Ghats of India used to be treated as a subspecies of this species. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.

The crimson-fronted barbet is an arboreal species of open woodland which eats fruit and insects. It nests in a tree hole, laying 2-4 eggs.

This is a small barbet at 15 cm. It is a plump bird with a short neck, large head and short tail. The adult crimson-fronted barbet has a mainly green body and wing plumage, a blue band down the side of the head and neck, and a black crescent behind the eye.

The brown-headed barbet or large green barbet(Megalaima zeylanica) is an Asian barbet. Barbets are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.

The adult has a streaked brown head, neck and breast, with a yellow eye patch. The rest of the plumage is green. The bill is thick and red. Sexes are similar.

In Sri Lanka, this bird is known as polos kottoruwa – පොලොස් කොට්ටෝරුවා in the Sinhala language

The yellow-fronted barbet (Psilopogon flavifrons) is an Asian barbet which is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.

Yellow-fronted barbet is an arboreal species of forests and other woodland, including large gardens, which eats mainly small fruit and only rarely insects. It nests in a tree hole, laying 2-3 eggs.

This is a medium-sized barbet at 21 cm. It is a plump bird, with a short neck, large head and short tail. The adult yellow-fronted barbet has a mainly green body and wing plumage, with a scaly appearance to the breast. It has a blue face and throat, and a yellow crown and moustachial stripes.