The Indochinese barbet, also called Annam barbet, is a bird belonging to the family Megalaimidae. It inhabits tropical and subtropical forests. It is found in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. It used to be considered a subspecies of the black-browed barbet.
Region
Mainland Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, primarily in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. It favors mature lowland and foothill forests but also uses forest edges, secondary growth, and fruiting trees in mosaic landscapes. Birds foraging in the canopy can be hard to see, though their calls carry over long distances. It tolerates some habitat modification where large fruiting trees remain.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Also known as the Annam barbet, this species is a canopy-dwelling Asian barbet native to Indochina. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the black-browed barbet but is now recognized as distinct based on vocal and plumage differences. Like other barbets, it excavates its own nesting cavity in dead or soft wood using its stout bill.
Temperament
secretive in the canopy, vocal and alert
Flight Pattern
short undulating flights between trees
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, sometimes in small family groups. Pairs excavate nest cavities in dead branches or soft trunks and lay white eggs. Both sexes share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Delivers a loud, metronomic series of hollow notes typical of barbets, often a repeated tuk or pok phrase. Duetting between pairs is common and can continue for extended periods at dawn.
