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.
