Great Barbet (Megalaima virens)
Megalaima virens – Varditer flycatcher (click to enlarge)
Varditer flycatcher (click to enlarge)
| Common name | Great Barbet |
| Scientific name | Megalaima virens |
| Family | Megalaimidae (Barbets) |
| Description | A brightly colored barbet with a heavy yellow bill, with bristles at its base–maroon-brown with violet blue-black head; olive-brown, blue, and yellow below with a bright scarlet patch under the tail. The sexes are alike. It is a common resident species of the moist forests of Himalayas, from 1000 to 3000 meters—found lower down in winter. The Great Barbet is a very common bird in Shimla area and usually likes to sit on the top of Deodar trees and gives a call from the top. Seen singly or in small feeding parties. Congregations of 30 or more are found in large fruiting trees. Though with gaudy coloration, it is difficult to view amongst foliage, especially in winter, when it is silent—feeds chiefly on fruits and insects. It has a distinct sound repeated monotonously, throughout the day, in irregular choruses by several birds, which intensifies at sunset |