Brown-headed Barbet

Brown headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica) (25-27 cm)

A Brown-headed Barbet Looks for fruits close to a Guava tree. In my experience, this beautiful bird is the most elusive next to the Black Headed Oriole and Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher, who stops occasionally at our home garden in Homagama. Although considered common, I have long been trying to catch this visitor for years, and that’s not an exaggeration. For one thing, they stay well away from humans. The slightest indication of presence and they’re gone. Their call is a quite distinctive “ku-krooo, ku-krooo” which you can hear particularly in the early hours of the day.

Sri Lanka’s own endemic barbets are called the Yellow fronted Barbet (Megalaima flavifrons – vulnerable, endemic) and Crimson fronted barbet (Megalaima rubricapilla – endemic) and are yet to be spotted by the author. But they too are considered common according to the popular bird guide books. The latter is the smallest and is also called “Ceylon Small Barbet”. These adorable birds love fruits and that’s one way to attract them. Although not in line with wildlife conservation ethics and practices, most homes in wooded regions entertain a ‘bird feed’ with fruits and bread crumbs. If the Barbet is a local visitor, then it is sure to call in to taste the irresistible fruits.