Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus Scientific name definitions

The small and vibrant Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus), also known as the Crimson-breasted Barbet or Coppersmith, is one of the best-known members of its family (Megalaimidae). It is a broadly distributed and familiar bird to many; being one of the only Asian barbets to regularly occupy non-forested/human-dominated habitats. Its repetitive, metallic call, which recalls the sound of a coppersmith hammering metal, can be nearly ubiquitous during the breeding season throughout its range, spanning the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Java, Bali, and the Philippines.

The Coppersmith Barbet has bright-green upperparts, with dark-streaked, pale-yellowish underparts, and a geographically variable combination of red, yellow, and black on the head and breast. It is largely frugivorous, taking fruits, drupes, and berries, as well as some insects and flower parts. It nests in cavities; either excavating or repurposing holes in dead trees, posts, or tree branches, although it will also readily nest in other anthropogenic structures. Despite being common and adaptable across its range, much remains to be learned about this charismatic bird and its response to anthropogenic activity.