The Taiwan barbet (''Psilopogon nuchalis''), also known as the embroidered barbet, is a species of bird
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to the country of
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
.
Taxonomy
It was formerly considered a
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of the
black-browed barbet
The black-browed barbet (''Psilopogon oorti'') is an Asian barbet native to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, where it inhabits foremost forests between altitude. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List because of its wide distribution ...
(''Psilopogon oorti'') and placed in the genus ''Megalaima''.
Description
It is about long. The
plumage
Plumage ( "feather") is a layer of feathers that covers a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage differ between species and subspecies and may vary with age classes. Within species, ...
is mostly green.
The lore has a red spot. The ear-coverts and lower malar are blue. The throat is mustard yellow.
The forehead is yellow. There is a black stripe above the eye. The
beak
The beak, bill, or rostrum is an external anatomical structure found mostly in birds, but also in turtles, non-avian dinosaurs and a few mammals. A beak is used for eating, preening, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food ...
is black and thick.
The breast has a blue band and a red band.
The belly is yellowish-green. The feet are greyish. The sexes are alike.
Name
In Taiwan, the bird is known as the "five-colored bird" (), referring to the five colors on its plumage. Because of its colorful plumage and that its call resembles that of a percussion instrument known as a
wooden fish
A wooden fish, also known as a Chinese temple block, wooden bell, or ''muyu'', is a type of woodblock that originated from East Asia that is used by monks and lay people in the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism. They are used by Buddhist ceremonie ...
, the species is also referred to as the "colorful monk" (;
Taiwanese Hokkien
Taiwanese Hokkien () (; Tâi-lô: ''Tâi-uân-uē''), also known as Taigi/Taigu (; Pe̍h-ōe-jī/Tâi-lô: ''Tâi-gí / Tâi-gú''), Taiwanese, Taiwanese Minnan, Hoklo and Holo, is a variety of the Hokkien language spoken natively by about 70% ...
: ) by Taiwanese.
Habitat and ecology
It is commonly found in
forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
s at elevations of up to .
It feeds on fruits and insects. The breeding season is from March to August.
It nests in tree cavities. It may use an existing cavity or excavate one.
See also
*
List of endemic species of Taiwan
The endemic species of Taiwan are organisms that are endemic to the island of Taiwan— that is, they occur nowhere else on Earth.
Percentages of endemic animals of all living species in Taiwan.
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Percentages of endemic plants of all livi ...
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q13414979
Taiwan barbet
Endemic birds of Taiwan
Taiwan barbet
Taiwan barbet