The golden-throated barbet (Psilopogon franklinii) is an Asian barbet native to Southeast Asia, where it inhabits foremost forests between 900 and 2,700 m (3,000 and 8,900 ft) altitude. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List because of its wide distribution and stable population.[1]
Taxonomy
Bucco franklinii was the scientific name proposed by Edward Blyth in 1842 who described a vivid green barbet with a golden throat collected in Darjeeling.[2]
It was placed in the genusMegalaima proposed by George Robert Gray in 1842 who suggested to use this name instead of Bucco.[3] In the 19th and 20th centuries, the following golden-throated barbet zoological specimens were described:[4]
Cyanops franklinii minor proposed by C. Boden Kloss and Frederick Nutter Chasen in 1926 for a specimen collected in Perak, Malaysia.[7]
Cyanops franklinii trangensis proposed by Joseph Harvey Riley in 1934 for a barbet collected in Thailand.[8]
Molecular phylogenetic research of barbets revealed that the birds in the genus Megalaima form a clade, which also includes the fire-tufted barbet, the only species placed in the genus Psilopogon at the time. Barbets formerly placed in this genus were therefore reclassified under the genus Psilopogon.[9]
Two golden-throated barbet subspecies are recognised as of 2014:[10]
P. f. franklinii occurs in the Himalayan foothills from central Nepal to northern Myanmar, Laos and southwestern China.
The golden-throated barbet is vivid green above with paler yellowish-green plumage below, deep blue wings and verditer underneath the tail. Its bill is dusky black, and it is black around the eyes. Its forehead is crimson and its throat orange. Its legs are greenish.[2]
It is 20.5–23.5 cm (8.1–9.3 in) long and weighs 50–101 g (1.8–3.6 oz).[10]
Distribution and habitat
The golden-throated barbet is resident in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam and mainland China. Its presence in Bangladesh is uncertain. It inhabits tropical and subtropical moist forests at elevations of 900 to 2,700 m (3,000 to 8,900 ft).[1]
Behaviour and ecology
The male's territorial call is a very loud pukwowk.[10]
^Robinson, H. C.; Kloss, C. B. (1919). "On Birds from South Annam and Cochin China. Part I. Phasianidæ–Campophagidæ". Ibis. 61 (3): 392–453. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1919.tb02892.x.
^Kloss, C. B.; Chasen, F. N. (1926). "Cyanops franklinii minor". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 46 (299): 57–58.
^Moyle, R. G. (2004). "Phylogenetics of barbets (Aves: Piciformes) based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 30: 187–200. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00179-9. PMID15022769.
^ abcShort, L. L.; Horne, J. F. M.; Kirwan, G. M. (2014). "Golden-throated Psilopogon franklinii". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D. A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 7: Jacamars to Woodpeckers. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.
Robson, C. (2002). A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand. London, Sydney, Auckland: New Holland. ISBN1-84330-921-1.