Taiwan barbet | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Piciformes |
Family: | Megalaimidae |
Genus: | Psilopogon |
Species: | P. nuchalis |
Binomial name | |
Psilopogon nuchalis (Gould, 1863) |
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Synonyms | |
Megalaima nuchalis Gould, 1863 |
Megalaima nuchalis Gould, 1863
The Taiwan barbet (Psilopogon nuchalis) is a species of bird endemic to the island of Taiwan.
It was formerly considered a subspecies of the black-browed barbet (Psilopogon oorti) and placed in the genus Megalaima.
It is about 20 cm (7.9 in) long. The plumage is mostly green. The lore has a red spot. The ear-coverts and lower malar are blue. The throat is mustard yellow. The forehead is yellow. There is a black stripe above the eye. The beak is black and thick. The breast has a blue band and a red band. The belly is yellowish-green. The feet are greyish. The sexes are alike.
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.
It is commonly found in forests at elevations of up to 2,800 m (9,200 ft). It feeds on fruits and insects. The breeding season is from March to August. It nests in tree cavities. It may use an existing cavity or excavate one.