Breeding

This species excavates cavities in trees to nest, building a nest chamber within. Although the nesting of Asian barbets is chronically understudied, this page outlines the information that exists for this species.

March–July (egg laying reported in May). Apparently double-brooded in lower elevations of Vietnam (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Selection Process

Information needed.

Site Characteristics

Nest cavities are located in trees either in forest or open cultivated land, often on the underside of a sloping or horizontal branch. Nests may be 1.5–8 m above ground or even higher, but most are between 3–6 m. Nests have been recorded inside ravines with flowing water and in the trees Pinus roxburghii and Ficus infectoria (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Construction Process

Both sexes excavate the nest.

Structure and Composition

The chamber may be either unlined or lined with wood chips, but it sometimes appears to use grasses or wool at the bottom of the chamber as a lining (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Dimensions

The nest entrance is 4–7 cm in diameter, leading to a short downward tunnel of up to 30 cm, ending in a nest chamber about 10–15 cm in diameter (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Maintenance or Reuse of Nests

The bird appears to reuse nest sites in multiple years and also takes over old woodpecker hollows (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). There is a report of an old nest of this species being taken over by an Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)(42 Umar, M. 1996. Use of old Barbet hole, successive broods and mimicry by Magpie-Robin. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 35(6):110-111. Close ).

Shape

Blunt ovoid with slight elongation (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Size

Egg size from various sources, compiled in Short and Horne (43 Baker, E. C. S. (1934). Fauna of British India. Birds. 2nd edition. Volumes 3–4. Taylor & Francis, London, UK. Close , 44 Baker, E. C. S. (1934). The Nidification of Birds of the Indian Empire. Volume 3. Ploceidae-Asionidae. Taylor and Francis, London, UK. Close , 45 Ali, S., and S. D. Ripley (1983). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Volume 4. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press, Delhi, India. Close , 1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ):

Mass

Information needed.

Eggshell Thickness

No quantitative data, but described as 'thin-shelled' (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Color and Surface Texture

Eggs are white with a slight gloss (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Clutch Size

Clutches are 2–5 eggs, but mostly 3–4 (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Egg Laying

Information needed.

Incubation Period

14 days (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Parental Behavior

Both parents incubate, with one being present at all times so that the eggs are never left unattended (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Information needed.

Information needed.

Both parents feed the young and remove fecal sacs from the nest (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Information needed.

Information needed.

Fledging stage remains poorly known. The young apparently staying with the parents for a short time after fledging (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Information needed.