Behavior

A somewhat heavyset, sluggish bird that spends most its time in the canopy, this species is often difficult to observe although its presence my be detected by its loud calls. Many aspects of its behavior lack formal description.

The Blue-throated Barbet has a noisy, undulating flight, with several wingbeats followed by a brief glide (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Information needed.

Presumably territorial, as birds countersing regularly (AK). Nothing else noted.

Courtship feeding is regularly noted among pairs, which vocalize and display close to one another in a tree. Courtship displays include head bobbing and twisting, as well as wagging of the tail (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Numbers may gather at fruiting trees, often in the company of other frugivorous birds, for example, the Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens)and Lineated Barbet (Psilopogon lineatus), the Asian Fairy-bluebird (Irena puella), bulbuls (Pycnonotus sp.), the Common Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa) and green-pigeons (Treron sp.) (AK).

Kinds of Predators

Information needed.

Response to Predators

A vocal bird in a tree was observed going immediately silent when a Shikra (Accipiter badius) flew into the tree it was perched in (AK). A captive individual showed alarm by freezing in an upright position, with the rictal bristles pressed against the bill pointing forward (the bristles being normally spread widely) (18 Goodwin, D. (1964). Some aspects of taxonomy and relationships of barbets (Capitonidae). Ibis 106(2):198–219. Close ).