Coppersmith barbet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coppersmith barbet |
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_by_Shantanu_Kuveskar.jpg) |
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| Mangaon, Raigad, Maharashtra | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Psilopogon
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| Species: |
haemacephalus
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| Synonyms | |
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Xantholaoema haemacephala, Megalaima haemacephala |
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The coppersmith barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus) is a small, colorful bird found in Asia. It's also known as the crimson-breasted barbet because of its bright red forehead and throat. This bird gets its name from its call, which sounds like a coppersmith hitting metal with a hammer – a steady tuk-tuk-tuk.
Coppersmith barbets live in the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. They make their nests by carving holes inside trees. They mostly eat fruits, but sometimes they also snack on insects like winged termites.
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What Does It Look Like?
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The coppersmith barbet is mostly green. It has a bright red head, yellow cheeks, and a yellow throat. Its belly has grey and black stripes.
This bird is about 15 to 17 centimeters (6 to 7 inches) long. It weighs between 30 and 52.6 grams (about 1 to 1.8 ounces).
Bird Families and Names
Scientists give every animal a special scientific name. This helps everyone around the world know exactly which animal they are talking about. The coppersmith barbet's scientific name is Psilopogon haemacephalus.
Over time, scientists learn more about birds. They use things like DNA to understand how different bird species are related. This can sometimes lead to changes in their scientific names or how they are grouped. For example, the coppersmith barbet used to be in a group called Megalaima. Now, it's in the Psilopogon group.
There are also different types of coppersmith barbets, called subspecies. These are slightly different versions of the same bird that live in different places. For example, the P. h. indicus subspecies lives in places like India and Sri Lanka.
Where Do They Live?
Coppersmith barbets live in many places across Asia. You can find them in gardens, groves, and open woodlands. They especially like places with dead trees. This is because they need dead wood to dig out their nests.
In some areas, like the Himalayas, they live in valleys up to about 900 meters (3,000 feet) high. Their home range often overlaps with other, larger barbet species.
How Do They Behave?
Coppersmith barbets usually live alone or in small groups. Sometimes, you might see bigger groups in trees that have lots of fruit. They enjoy sitting in the sun on the top branches of tall trees in the morning. Their flight is fast and straight.
These birds sometimes have to compete for nesting spots. Other birds, like blue-throated barbets, might try to take over their nest holes. Even red-vented bulbuls have been seen stealing berries from a male coppersmith barbet bringing food to its mate.
The holes they dig for nests are also used for sleeping. Young birds often sleep with their parents in these tree cavities.
Their Special Call
The coppersmith barbet's call is very famous. It's a loud, metallic tuk…tuk…tuk. This sound is like a coppersmith hitting a metal sheet, which is how the bird got its name. They repeat this sound for a long time, starting quietly and then getting louder and steadier.
When they call, their beak stays shut. Instead, a patch of bare skin on each side of their throat inflates and collapses with each tuk. They also bob their head as they call. These birds are usually quiet and don't call during the winter.
What Do They Eat?
Coppersmith barbets love to eat fruits. They especially enjoy banyan and peepul figs, along with other wild fruits and berries. They also eat insects that they catch while flying. Sometimes, they even eat flower petals!
These birds eat a lot of fruit. They can eat almost 1.5 to 3 times their own body weight in berries every single day.
Raising a Family
Coppersmith barbets breed for much of the year, but the exact timing can change depending on where they live. In India, they mainly breed from February to April.
Both the male and female birds work together to dig out their nest. They usually choose the underside of a narrow, horizontal tree branch. They also use these nest holes to sleep in. The female typically lays three or four eggs. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm. The eggs hatch in about two weeks. Often, they will raise two groups of chicks one after another.
Images for kids
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Mangaon, Raigad, Maharashtra
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Juvenile coppersmith barbet in Kolkata
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Coppersmith barbet in Queen Sirikit Park
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Coppersmith barbet at Gujarat refinery township Vadodara
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Coppersmith Barbet, Delhi, India
