Great Barbet Psilopogon virens Scientific name definitions

The enormous Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens) is the largest of the barbets, approximately the size of a small pigeon. Occupying subtropical hill forests from the Himalayas through southern China and mainland Southeast Asia, this species is largely a montane bird, although it may descend lower in search of fruiting trees. Patterned in an attractive combination of dark blue-violet head, streaked underparts, and crimson vent, the colors and large size of this bird render it a conspicuous inhabitant of its favored habitats. Its characteristic wailing calls are a near-constant feature of Himalayan landscapes and are familiar to the inhabitants of many Himalayan villages. A territorial, frugivorous cavity-nester, numbers may gather near fruiting trees, and the resultant caterwauling may drown out almost all other bird song. In many parts of its range, this species is hunted for food, although it remains common to abundant across its range and appears tolerant of substantial habitat modification.