Blue-eared Barbet Psilopogon cyanotis is resident in southwest and southern Yunnan (Xishuangbanna). HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Forests, to 1500 m (4,920 ft.). Hole-nester, like all Piciformes; takes fruit (figs) and insects. ID Small and plump. Black forehead, sky-blue crown, throat, and ear coverts, with small red patches above and below ear coverts and just below eye. Green on neck and mantle, darker on wings, lighter green on underparts; bluish-green tail. Female duller. Juvenile very uniformly green, with blue shadow on cheeks. BARE PARTS Stout, black bill bristly at base. Feet yellowish-grey. VOICE Loud, continuously repeated call of two syllables, each of same length, with second note slightly higher-pitched. Other call a single fluty note. — Craig Brelsford
THE ASIAN BARBETS OF CHINA
shanghaibirding.com has research on all eight species of Asian barbet in China. Click any link:
Great Barbet Psilopogon virens
Lineated Barbet P. lineatus
Green-eared Barbet P. faiostrictus
Golden-throated Barbet P. franklinii
Chinese Barbet P. faber
Blue-throated Barbet P. asiaticus
Blue-eared Barbet P. cyanotis
Coppersmith Barbet P. haemacephalus
See also:
Taiwan Barbet Psilopogon nuchalis
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
