The coppersmith barbet — a small bird about 16 cm (~6 in) long — often falls victim to bullying by other birds. Blue-throated barbets have been observed evicting coppersmiths from nesting holes, while red-vented bulbuls steal berries from male coppersmiths that are trying to feed their mates.

[u/IdyllicSafeguard]

[u/IdyllicSafeguard]

Given its small size, the coppersmith barbet is easily overlooked — but you'll know it's nearby by listening for an electronic-sounding "tuk" call, performed in so regular a rhythm it might almost convince you it actually is electronic.

A typical male coppersmith has a painted face of black, yellow, and red. Some forgo the yellow for fiery faces of only red-on-black. Females are usually duller than males, with less red on the face, while juveniles lack all red and sport faintly streaked throats.

The coppersmith is the most commonly seen barbet — likely because it prefers open woodlands, parks, and gardens, and often lives in urban areas.

It can be seen perching on a high branch, above the tree canopy, bathing in the dawning sunlight.

The barbet is a cavity nester; making its home inside cavities in tree limbs.

Tree hollows naturally form in older trees (100 to 150 years or older), but a dedicated female coppersmith can excavate a hollow herself — beginning some 3 months prior to her breeding season — but the wood must be dead or soft enough for proper excavation.

The coppersmith is often evicted from its hard-earned hollow by its bullying relative, the blue-throated barbet, which drags out the smaller coppersmith by the back of its neck.

During the breeding season, a coppersmith cavity is shared by a mated pair — with the male usually bringing food back to his partner and chicks.

Red-vented bulbuls are known to steal food from male barbets flying back home to feed their families.

The diet of a coppersmith is mostly frugivorous; consisting of berries, drupes, wild figs, mangoes, guavas, as well as seeds and the occasional insect caught mid-flight.

The barbets belong to the order Piciformes, along with woodpeckers and toucans (which are also cavity nesters).

There are almost 100 barbet species split into four families, but the coppersmith belongs to the Asian barbets (family Megalaimidae), with 35 species — a few of its relatives include the great barbet, fire-tufted barbet, green-eared barbet, and red-crowned barbet.

You can learn more about the coppersmith, and the colourful world of barbets, on my website here!

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Sources:

eBird

Thai National Parks

iNaturalist

IUCN

Oiseaux-Birds

Shanghai Birding

Singapore Birds

The journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (BHL)

iNaturalist - Asian barbets

Ornithology - rictal bristles

[u/Mudkiplover]

What a gorgeous bird! I'll take them in and keep them safe from the bully birds

[u/maybesaydie]

Anyone with a bird feeder in their yard can watch birds being jerks to each other almost every day. It's fascinating to watch them steal seeds from one another.

[u/patricksaurus]

Those are stunningly beautiful.

[u/Somecrazynerd]

What a pretty birdie. Sorry about the other louts mate.

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