Оң жақ иегі ақ бақылдақ құс

Species of bird found in southern India

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.

Bucco viridis was the scientific name proposed by Pieter Boddaert in 1783 for a green barbet that had been described by Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon in 1780 based on a specimen collected in India. It was illustrated by François Nicolas Martinet in a hand coloured plate. It was placed in the genus Megalaima proposed by George Robert Gray in 1842 who suggested to use this name instead of Bucco. Its type locality is Mahé, Puducherry in southwestern India. It is a monotypic species. In 2004, molecular phylogenetic research of barbets revealed that the Megalaima species form a clade, which also includes the fire tufted barbet, the only species placed in the genus Psilopogon at the time. Asian barbets were therefore reclassified under the genus Psilopogon. Results of a phylogenetic study of Asian barbets published in 2013 indicate that the white cheeked barbet is most closely related to the yellow fronted barbet (P. flavifrons), which is endemic to Sri Lanka. The relationship of the white cheeked barbet with some close relatives in its taxon is illustrated below. Size varies from the larger northern birds to the southern ones. Like many other Asian barbets, white cheeked barbets are green, sit still, and perch upright, making them difficult to spot. During the breeding season which begins at the start of summer their calls become loud and constant especially in the mornings. The call, a monotonous Kot roo Kotroo starting with an explosive is not easily differentiated from that of the brown headed barbet. During hot afternoons, they may also utter a single note wut not unlike the call of collared scops owl or coppersmith barbet. Other harsh calls are produced during aggressive encounters.

The main range is along the Western Ghats south from the Surat Dangs and along the associated hills of southern India into parts of the southern Eastern Ghats mainly in the Shevaroy and Chitteri Hills.

The Indian ornithologist Salim Ali noted that some individuals call in the night during the breeding season, but this has been questioned by other observers who noted that they appear to be strictly diurnal.

These barbets are arboreal and will rarely visit the ground. They obtain most of the water they need from their fruit diet. When water is available in a tree hole, they will sometimes drink and bathe. These birds are mostly frugivorous, but will take winged termites and other insects opportunistically. They feed on the fruits of various Ficus species including Ficus benjamina and Ficus mysorensis, and introduced fruit trees such as Muntingia calabura. When foraging they are quite aggressive and will attempt to chase other barbets, koels and other frugivores. These barbets play an important role in forests as seed dispersal agents. They also visit the flowers of Bombax for nectar and may be involved in pollination. A species of tick in the genus Haemaphysalis is known to be specific in its parasitic association with this species and some species of Leucocytozoon are known to be blood parasites. Some species of Haemaphysalis are known to carry the virus responsible for the Kyasanur forest disease. Shikras have been recorded preying on adults. These birds are primary cavity nesters, chiseling out the trunk or a vertical branch of tree with a round entry hole. They breed from December to July, sometimes raising two broods. They may reuse the same nest tree each year but often excavate a new entrance hole.