Malaysian Birds - Red-throated Barbet

Size & diagnostic markings:- 23 Cm. The Red-throated Barbet appeared large though it is only 23 cm. Most prominent if the red color throat. The fore crown is yellow while the rest of the crown red. The broad black band across the eye creating a blue cheek. A small yellow patch separate the blue cheek with the red throated area on the breast.

Distribution :-  The Red-throated Barbet same as the Red-crowned Barbet are birds from the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In Malaysia, this bird was seen more often when compared with the Red-crowned.

Habitats & preferences:- For us in Malaysia, the Red-throated is a bird of the hills though not up to sub-montane climate

The Red-throated Barbet is very often heard but seldom seen.This is a  forest bird of low hills staying up to elevation of 750 m.

Like all Barbets, this is a canopy bird. Easily heard but not seen. On few occasions I got them in the lower storey, but unlike the Red-crowned Barbet, they took flight immediately. It is not easy to make an ID on the spot in those short moments. At another time, the bird came in alone consistently for days to a cluster of fruiting trees in Bukit Tinggi. On the contrary, the only Barbet from other species was the Brown Barbet. Both species of Barbet showed no signs of anxiety when feeding with my presence. then there were a couple of occasion that the bird was again seen in the middle storey. These times were not during the fruiting season.

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 1

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 2

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 3

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 4

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 5

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 6

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 7

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 8

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 9

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 10

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 11

Red-throated Barbet's picture No. 12

Had monitored this patch of fruiting trees for 4 seasons now and there was no consistency in the bird returning. It could be a fact that these may not be the most preferred fruits as the trees were imported from Japan.

Beside this frivolous clue, I have no idea where and when to meet up with the bird