Appearance
The golden-whiskered barbet has a green plumage of various hues. On both sides of the black beak it has a yellow moustache that extends to the ear canal. Its throat is blue, and it has small blue and red spots on the head. Its eyes are also surrounded by blue. Its forecrown is pale yellow, with red patches on both sides of the beak. It is 30 cm long and weighs 110–215 g.Female and male are similar in appearance but display a small degree of sexual dichromatism in that the beaks of the female appear paler with a dusky bluish color. Before reaching maturity birds of both sexes have duller overall plumage.
Naming
In Mandarin Chinese it is known as 金须拟䴕 "golden-whiskered false woodpecker" or 金颊拟啄木鸟 or as "gold-cheeked false woodpecker". Its Japanese name is キホオゴシキドリ or 黄頬五色鳥 , "yellow-cheeked five-coloured bird."Distribution
The golden-whiskered barbet ranges from the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo, where it inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and montane forest. It has also been sighted in cacao plantation and second growth forests but is rare in evergreen and swamp forests.Behavior
The golden-whiskered barbet spends most of the day in the forest canopy. It forages mostly on figs and berries. As it has been observed picking on dead wood, it is assumed that it also looks for insects. It sings a series of 'too-tuk' notes, and when breeding also despite high temperatures during day. It breeds from February to August and lays two eggs per clutch.Reproduction
It sings a series of 'too-tuk' notes, and when breeding also despite high temperatures during day. It breeds from February to August and lays two eggs per clutch.Food
As it has been observed picking on dead wood, it is assumed that it also looks for insects.References:
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