Taiwan Barbet

## About

A male Taiwan barbet in a tree.

The Taiwan barbet ***(Psilopogon nuchalis)*** is a species of Old World barbet native to the east Asian island country of Taiwan. The species is also known as the five-coloured bird or 五色鳥 in Chinese (pinyin: wǔsèniǎo), for the five colours of plumage that are found throughout its body. The face is comprised of areas of yellow on the forehead and upper throat, as well as red dots on either sides surrounding the beak's base. The barbet's cheeks and lower throat are a bright blue or cyan colour and this coloration transitions to a bright yellowish green on the wings, body and tail feathers. Red is the least prominent colour of the Taiwan barbet's plumage, only being found in the form of a breast band bordering the bird's lower throat and dotting the bird's face. The Taiwan barbet has dark or maroon irises and a grey colour on their legs, feet, beak and wing coverts. Behind the eyes are extremely apparent black brows. The two sexes are identical, even in size. Taiwan barbets grow to an average length of 5-21cm (1.9-8.26in) and can weigh up to 67-123g (2.3-4.3oz).

## Diet

Taiwan barbets are omnivorous, eating both animal and plant matter. They are known mainly to insects however, they may also commonly eat species of fruit.

## Conservation Status

The IUCN page for this species lists no threats to the Taiwan barbet. This has lead to the barbet being listed as a species of least concern. Birdlife International Datazone also shares this ides stating that the Taiwan barbet does not approach thresh-holds for vulnerability. One small threat that does exist for the species is oddly the beautification of trees. Due to the barbet's tendency to prefer dead trees as potential nests, it is often subjected to the beautification, or trimming, of trees.

## Range and Population

The Taiwan barbet is named for its geographic range and the species inhabits only the island nation of Taiwan. Here, the species occurs mostly in forested areas such as; rainforests, montane and riverine forests, the species can also be found in abundance in urban areas, its range even extending through Taiwan's capital city, Taipei, or 中华台北 in simplified Chinese. The population of the barbet has not been stated however, the species is likely in a declining state. Birdlife International Datazone suggests that the species does not approach thresh-holds for a vulnerable or threatened status and the species. Though the exact population is unknown, IUCN places the species' population at likely around 10,000-100,000 mature breeding individuals.

## Behaviour

As the Taiwan barbet is a slightly enigmatic species, the behavioural characteristics of the bird are not well known. It is likely that breeding season occurs in March-August. Once paired, the two barbets will nest in either a self-made tree cavity, or rather a pre-excavated cavity. The Taiwan barbet lives mostly in Camphor trees ***(Cinnamomum camphora)***, specifically in dead trees or live trees with dead limbs and branches. The Taiwan barbet may lay up to 3 eggs and has an incubation period of around 13-14 days, the parents alternate incubation. The average nesting period is around 27-28 days. The Taiwan barbet has an oddly low hatch rate at only 32.8%. This hatch rate can be attributed to agricultural and other human disturbances.

### Relationship with Humans

Taiwan barbets are extremely beneficial to humans, especially in rural urban regions. The birds play an important role in the food chain, controlling populations of bugs like locusts, which if left uncontrolled, can destroy large agricultural areas. Taiwan barbets are also extremely prolific pollinators, efficiently pollinating and dispersing seeds in not only wild areas, but also botanical gardens and other urban environments.

## In Captivity

Taiwan barbets cannot be found in captivity currently in any zoo.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22734433/95085425#population
* Taiwan Barbet | Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan\_barbet
* Taiwan Barbet | Birdlife International Datazone - http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/taiwan-barbet-psilopogon-nuchalis
* BREEDING BIOLOGY OF THE TAIWAN BARBET (MEGALAIMA NUCHALIS) IN TAIPEI BOTANICAL GARDEN | JSTOR - https://www.jstor.org/stable/40962337