White-cheeked Barbet
Photo: Rehman Abubakr · CC BY-SA 4.0

Asian Barbets

White-cheeked Barbet

Psilopogon viridis

LCLeast Concern Endemic to India
Family
Asian Barbets (Megalaimidae)
Order
Piciformes

Overview

The white-cheeked barbet or small green barbet (Psilopogon viridis) is a species of Asian barbet found in southern India. It is very similar to the more widespread brown-headed barbet (or large green barbet, Psilopogon zeylanicus), but this species has a distinctive supercilium and a broad white cheek stripe below the eye and is found in the forest areas of the Western Ghats, parts of the Eastern Ghats and adjoining hills. The brown-headed barbet has an orange eye-ring but the calls are very similar and the two species occur together in some of the drier forests to the east of the Western Ghats. Like all other Asian barbets, they are mainly frugivorous (although they may sometimes eat insects), and use their bills to excavate nest cavities in trees.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Lowlands and foothills of west-central and southwestern India.

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Continents

Countries

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.