The
Muller's barbet has a large body build, green plumage, and
a multicolored neck of yellow, blue, red, black, and green.
This has earned it the Chinese name of "Wu Se Bird,"
or literally, "five-colored bird." Muller's barbets
have two thick black eyebrows over each eye; short, thick
beaks, with the upper bill longer than the lower; a head that
is quite large relative to other parts of their bodies; and
whiskers. Their shorter tail feathers and wings make it difficult
for the bird to fly. However, their green plumage and colorful
necks make the perfect camouflage in the forests.
Behavior:
The
Muller's barbet is also called the "spotted monk of the
forest" because of its colorful plumage and its calls,
which sound like a Buddhist instrument known as a wooden fish.
They are omnivorous birds whose primary diet consists of berries,
fruits, and insects. Their breeding season is in the spring
and summer, and they build their nests in the notches of decayed
trees, with females typically laying a clutch of three to
five shimmering eggs. Muller's barbets have short, round wings
that prevent them from flying long distances, and as a result,
they often hide amongst branches at the tops of high forests
where they cannot be easily spotted.
Habitat:
Muller's
barbets are a sub-species of bird endemic to Taiwan commonly
found in broad-leaved forests, mixed forests, and in the middle
and upper levels of secondary forests at altitudes of 2500m
and below.
