Megalaimidae
Encyclopedia
A family of birds comprising the Asian barbets, the Megalaimidae were once united with all other barbets in the Capitonidae (Short & Horne 2002) but they have turned out to be distinct. There are 26 species living in wooded areas from Tibet
to Indonesia
.
All members of the family are placed in the genus
Megalaima, except the Fire-tufted Barbet
(Psilopogon pyrolophus) and the Brown Barbet
(Caloramphus fuliginosus). The latter species is distinct enough to warrant placement in a distinct subfamily Calorhamphinae, whereas the typical Asian barbets make up the Megalaimatinae.
The diversity is concentrated around the Malay Peninsula
and Sumatra
; it is therefore probable that the family originated there or thereabouts.
They are usually plump-looking, with large heads, and their heavy bill is fringed with bristles. The Great Barbet (Megalaima virens), at 210 g (7.4 oz) and 33 cm (13 inches), is the largest of the species, and indeed among its relatives only surpassed in size by some of the toucan
s.
Asian barbets are usually birds of the inner forest. One species, the Coppersmith Barbet
, is adapted to life on the forest edge and in scrub. They are mainly solitary birds, eating insects and fruit. Figs of the genus Ficus
are the most important fruit taken by Asian barbets. Large fig trees will attract several species of barbet along with other frugivores. In addition to figs numerous other species of fruiting tree and bush are visited, an individual barbet may feed on as many as 60 different species in its range. They will also visit plantations and take cultivated fruit and vegetables. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed
pits regurgitated later (often before singing
). Regurgitation does not usually happen in the nest (as happens with toucan
s). Barbets are thought to be important agents in seed dispersal
in tropical forests.
As well as taking fruit barbets also take arthropod
prey, gleaned from the branches and trunks of trees. A wide range on insects are taken, including ants, cicadas, dragonflies, crickets, locusts, beetles, moths and mantids. Scorpions and centipedes are also taken, and a few species will take small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs and geckos.
The precise nesting details of many species are not yet known. Like many members of their order
, Piciformes
, their nests are in holes bored into a tree, and they usually between 2 to 4 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days.
There is generally not much interaction between Asian barbets and humans. Some species, like the Great Barbet
and the Lineated Barbet
will raid plantations and orchards, particularly in India
, and there is some capture for the cage-bird trade due to their pleasant coloration.
Although none of the Asian barbets are considered threatened, several species are known to be intolerant of deforestation
and require old-growth forest to thrive. For example, in Singapore only the second-growth tolerant Red-crowned Barbet
remains of the species originally found there, as well as the Coppersmith Barbet
which has expanded its range and colonised Singapore in the 1960s.
Subfamily Caloramphinae
It is not entirely resolved whether the Early to Middle Miocene
(23-12 mya) genus Capitonides
from Europe
belongs to this family or the African barbets (now Lybiidae). Indeed, given that the prehistoric birds somewhat resembled a primitive toucan, without these birds' present autapomorphies, they might occupy a more basal
position among the barbet-toucan clade
altogether.
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.
All members of the family are placed in the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Megalaima, except the Fire-tufted Barbet
Fire-tufted Barbet
The Fire-tufted Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Psilopogon....
(Psilopogon pyrolophus) and the Brown Barbet
Brown Barbet
The Brown Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Calorhamphus. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:* BirdLife International...
(Caloramphus fuliginosus). The latter species is distinct enough to warrant placement in a distinct subfamily Calorhamphinae, whereas the typical Asian barbets make up the Megalaimatinae.
The diversity is concentrated around the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
and Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
; it is therefore probable that the family originated there or thereabouts.
They are usually plump-looking, with large heads, and their heavy bill is fringed with bristles. The Great Barbet (Megalaima virens), at 210 g (7.4 oz) and 33 cm (13 inches), is the largest of the species, and indeed among its relatives only surpassed in size by some of the toucan
Toucan
Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae of near passerine birds from the Neotropics. The family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, often colorful bills. The family includes five genera and about forty different species...
s.
Coppersmith Barbet
The Coppersmith Barbet, Crimson-breasted Barbet or Coppersmith , is a bird with crimson forehead and throat which is best known for its metronomic call that has been likened to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. It is a resident found in South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia...
, is adapted to life on the forest edge and in scrub. They are mainly solitary birds, eating insects and fruit. Figs of the genus Ficus
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
are the most important fruit taken by Asian barbets. Large fig trees will attract several species of barbet along with other frugivores. In addition to figs numerous other species of fruiting tree and bush are visited, an individual barbet may feed on as many as 60 different species in its range. They will also visit plantations and take cultivated fruit and vegetables. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
pits regurgitated later (often before singing
Bird song
Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs. In non-technical use, bird songs are the bird sounds that are melodious to the human ear. In ornithology and birding, songs are distinguished by function from calls.-Definition:The distinction between songs and calls is based upon...
). Regurgitation does not usually happen in the nest (as happens with toucan
Toucan
Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae of near passerine birds from the Neotropics. The family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, often colorful bills. The family includes five genera and about forty different species...
s). Barbets are thought to be important agents in seed dispersal
Biological dispersal
Biological dispersal refers to species movement away from an existing population or away from the parent organism. Through simply moving from one habitat patch to another, the dispersal of an individual has consequences not only for individual fitness, but also for population dynamics, population...
in tropical forests.
As well as taking fruit barbets also take arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
prey, gleaned from the branches and trunks of trees. A wide range on insects are taken, including ants, cicadas, dragonflies, crickets, locusts, beetles, moths and mantids. Scorpions and centipedes are also taken, and a few species will take small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs and geckos.
The precise nesting details of many species are not yet known. Like many members of their order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
, Piciformes
Piciformes
Nine families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives...
, their nests are in holes bored into a tree, and they usually between 2 to 4 eggs, incubated for 13–15 days.
There is generally not much interaction between Asian barbets and humans. Some species, like the Great Barbet
Great Barbet
The Great Barbet, Megalaima virens, is an Asian barbet. Barbets are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills....
and the Lineated Barbet
Lineated Barbet
The Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata is a large barbet found in the northern parts of the Indian Subcontinent,along the southern foothills of the Himalayas and also in parts of Bangladesh and West Bengal. Like other barbets it is a frugivore. In nests inside holes bored into tree trunks....
will raid plantations and orchards, particularly in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and there is some capture for the cage-bird trade due to their pleasant coloration.
Although none of the Asian barbets are considered threatened, several species are known to be intolerant of deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
and require old-growth forest to thrive. For example, in Singapore only the second-growth tolerant Red-crowned Barbet
Red-crowned Barbet
The Red-crowned Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and plantations...
remains of the species originally found there, as well as the Coppersmith Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet
The Coppersmith Barbet, Crimson-breasted Barbet or Coppersmith , is a bird with crimson forehead and throat which is best known for its metronomic call that has been likened to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. It is a resident found in South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia...
which has expanded its range and colonised Singapore in the 1960s.
Systematics
Subfamily Megalaimatinae- Genus Psilopogon
- Psilopogon pyrolophus, Fire-tufted BarbetFire-tufted BarbetThe Fire-tufted Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Psilopogon....
- Psilopogon pyrolophus, Fire-tufted Barbet
- Genus MegalaimaMegalaimaMegalaima is a genus of Asian barbets . They make up the bulk of this newly verified clade, which was hitherto united with the other barbets in the Capitonidae...
- Megalaima virens, Great BarbetGreat BarbetThe Great Barbet, Megalaima virens, is an Asian barbet. Barbets are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills....
- Megalaima lagrandieri, Red-vented BarbetRed-vented BarbetThe Red-vented Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family.It is found in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam....
- Megalaima zeylanica, Brown-headed BarbetBrown-headed BarbetThe Brown-headed Barbet or Large Green Barbet is an Asian barbet. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.The Brown-headed Barbet is a resident breeder in India and...
- Megalaima lineata, Lineated BarbetLineated BarbetThe Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata is a large barbet found in the northern parts of the Indian Subcontinent,along the southern foothills of the Himalayas and also in parts of Bangladesh and West Bengal. Like other barbets it is a frugivore. In nests inside holes bored into tree trunks....
- Megalaima viridis, White-cheeked BarbetWhite-cheeked BarbetThe White-cheeked Barbet or Small Green Barbet is a species of barbet found in southern India. It is very similar to the more widespread Brown-headed Barbet but this species has a distinctive supercilium and a broad white cheek stripe below the eye and is endemic to the forest areas of the...
- Megalaima faiostricta, Green-eared BarbetGreen-eared BarbetThe Green-eared Barbet, Megalaima faiostricta, is an Asian barbet. Barbets are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills....
- Megalaima corvina, Brown-throated BarbetBrown-throated BarbetThe Brown-throated Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family.It is endemic to Indonesia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
- Megalaima chrysopogon, Golden-whiskered Barbet
- Megalaima rafflesii, Red-crowned BarbetRed-crowned BarbetThe Red-crowned Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and plantations...
- Megalaima mystacophanos, Red-throated BarbetRed-throated BarbetThe Red-throated Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand....
- Megalaima javensis, Black-banded BarbetBlack-banded BarbetThe Black-banded Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family.It is endemic to Indonesia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
- Megalaima flavifrons, Yellow-fronted BarbetYellow-fronted BarbetYellow-fronted Barbet is an Asian barbet which is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution...
- Megalaima franklinii, Golden-throated BarbetGolden-throated BarbetThe Golden-throated Barbet, Megalaima franklinii, is an Asian barbet. Barbets are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills....
- Megalaima oorti, Black-browed BarbetBlack-browed BarbetThe Black-browed Barbet or Müller's Barbet is a bird belonging to the Asian barbet family, Megalaimidae.It is 20-23.5 cm long. The plumage is mostly green apart from the head which is patterned with blue, yellow and red. There is a black stripe above the eye. The bill is black and the feet...
- Megalaima asiatica, Blue-throated BarbetBlue-throated BarbetThe Blue-throated Barbet is an Asian barbet, seen across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a world-wide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills; this species eats...
- Megalaima monticola, Mountain BarbetMountain BarbetThe Mountain Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family.It is found in Indonesia and Malaysia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
- Megalaima incognita, Moustached BarbetMoustached BarbetThe Moustached Barbet, Megalaima incognita, is an Asian barbet. Barbets are a group of near passerine birds with a world-wide tropical distribution. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills....
- Megalaima henricii, Yellow-crowned BarbetYellow-crowned BarbetThe Yellow-crowned Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand....
- Megalaima armillaris, Flame-fronted BarbetFlame-fronted BarbetThe Flame-fronted Barbet is a species of bird in the Megalaimidae family.It is endemic to Indonesia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
- Megalaima pulcherrima, Golden-naped BarbetGolden-naped BarbetThe Golden-naped Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family.It is found in Indonesia and Malaysia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
- Megalaima australis, Blue-eared BarbetBlue-eared BarbetThe Blue-eared Barbet, Megalaima australis, is an Asian barbet. Barbets are a group of near passerine birds with a world-wide tropical distribution. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.- Description :...
- Megalaima eximia, Bornean BarbetBornean BarbetThe Bornean Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family.It is found in Indonesia and Malaysia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
- Megalaima rubricapillus, Crimson-fronted BarbetCrimson-fronted BarbetCrimson-fronted Barbet or Ceylon Small Barbet or Small Barbet is an Asian barbet endemic to Sri Lanka. The Malabar Barbet endemic to the Western Ghats of India used to be treated as a subspecies of this species. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical...
- Megalaima haemacephala, Coppersmith BarbetCoppersmith BarbetThe Coppersmith Barbet, Crimson-breasted Barbet or Coppersmith , is a bird with crimson forehead and throat which is best known for its metronomic call that has been likened to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. It is a resident found in South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia...
- Megalaima virens, Great Barbet
Subfamily Caloramphinae
- Genus Caloramphus
- Calorhamphus fuliginosus, Brown BarbetBrown BarbetThe Brown Barbet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Calorhamphus. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:* BirdLife International...
- Calorhamphus fuliginosus, Brown Barbet
It is not entirely resolved whether the Early to Middle Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
(23-12 mya) genus Capitonides
Capitonides
Capitonides is an extinct genus of piciform from the Middle Miocene of southern Germany. Only one species are recorded for genus, Capitonites europaeus.. Carroll assigned the genus to family Capitonidae....
from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
belongs to this family or the African barbets (now Lybiidae). Indeed, given that the prehistoric birds somewhat resembled a primitive toucan, without these birds' present autapomorphies, they might occupy a more basal
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
position among the barbet-toucan clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
altogether.