The black-browed barbet is an Asian barbet native to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, where it inhabits foremost forests between 600 and 2,000 m altitude. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List because of its wide distribution and stable population.
Region
Sundaland
Typical Environment
Found in Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, primarily within lower to mid-montane evergreen forests. It favors forest interiors, ridgelines, and edges, and readily visits fruiting trees such as figs. The species tolerates selectively logged or secondary forest if mature fruiting trees remain. It is mostly arboreal, keeping to the mid to upper canopy and often perching quietly between feeding bouts.
Altitude Range
600–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This colorful barbet inhabits upland forests of Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, where its repetitive, hollow tuk-tuk call often reveals its presence before it is seen. It excavates its own nest cavity in dead or decaying wood using its stout bill. By swallowing fruits whole and later regurgitating seeds, it plays an important role in forest regeneration.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short, direct flights with rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen alone or in pairs, maintaining territories centered on fruiting trees. Both sexes excavate a nest cavity in soft or decaying wood and share incubation and chick-rearing. Outside the breeding season it may join mixed-species flocks loosely around fruiting trees.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, monotonous series of hollow tuk or tuk-tuk notes delivered at steady intervals from a concealed perch. Calls can carry far through montane forest and may continue for several minutes.
