White-cheeked Barbet

The white-cheeked barbet is 16.5–18.5 cm (6.5–7.3 in) in length. It has a brownish head streaked with white, sometimes giving it a capped appearance. The bill is pale pink. Size varies from the larger northern birds to the southern ones. Like many other Asian barbets, white-cheeked barbets are green, sit still, and perch upright, making them difficult to spot. During the breeding season which begins at the start of summer their calls become loud and constant especially in the mornings. The call, a monotonous Kot-roo...Kotroo... starting with an explosive trrr is not easily differentiated from that of the brown-headed barbet. During hot afternoons, they may also utter a single note wut not unlike the call of collared scops owl or coppersmith barbet. Other harsh calls are produced during aggressive encounters.

The main range is along the Western Ghats south from the Surat Dangs and along the associated hills of southern India into parts of the southern Eastern Ghats mainly in the Shevaroy and Chitteri Hills. In some areas, it has been suggested that this species may have displaced the brown-headed barbet which was formerly the dominant barbet species.

The Indian ornithologist Salim Ali noted that some individuals call in the night during the breeding season, but this has been questioned by other observers who noted that they appear to be strictly diurnal.

Food and feeding. The white-cheeked barbet feeds in trees and rarely visits the ground. It obtains most of the water needed from its fruit diet. When water is available in a tree hole, it sometimes drinks and bathes. It is mostly frugivorous, feeding on the fruits of various Ficus species including Ficus benjamina and Ficus mysorensis, but takes winged termites and other insects opportunistically. It also fruits of introduced tree species such as Muntingia calabura. When foraging it is aggressive and attempts to chase other barbets, Asian koels and other frugivores. The white-cheeked barbet plays an important role in forests as seed dispersal agents. It also visits the flowers of Bombax for nectar and may be involved in pollination. Its fruit eating makes it a minor nuisance in fruit orchards although it is noted as having a beneficial effect in coffee plantations. A species of tick in the genus Haemaphysalis is known to be specific in its parasitic association with the white-cheeked barbet, and some species of Leucocytozoon are known to be blood parasites. Some species of Haemaphysalis are known to carry the virus responsible for the Kyasanur forest disease. …