Identification

A largely green bird with a short tail and a stout, strong bill. It has a largely blue face and throat with a black-lined red crown. It is often observed at fruiting trees.

The Moustached Barbet (Psilopogon incognitus) has a black malar stripe that divides the face in two, and also has no black and less red on the crown. The Blue-eared Barbet (Psilopogon duvaucelii) is generally found at lower elevations (although the two overlap in northeastern India), is much smaller, and lacks red on the crown, with small red and black patches instead present on the face and throat. Other sympatric barbets all have some yellow on their heads, which the Blue-throated Barbet lacks (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).