Barbets Of Vietnam – Megalaimidae
With 11 species Barbets of Vietnam, occurring over the country. Barbets family mostly has green and lives in tropical forest even in the park of every city with the unique sound of the family. 2 species easy to encounter in Vietnam is Lineated Barbet and Coppersmith Barbet.
You may know: Because of their sing similar to the Pagoda sound 5 species Brown Barbet, Great Barbet, Red-vented Barbet, Green-eared Barbet, and Lineated Barbet called “Bonze” in Vietnamese name.
The overview of Barbets families
The Asian Barbets are a family of bird species, the Megalaimidae, comprising two genera with 35 species native to the forests of the Indomalayan realm from Tibet to Indonesia. They were once clubbed with all barbets in the family Capitonidae but the Old World species have been found to be distinctive and are considered, along with the Lybiidae and Ramphastidae, as sister groups.
In the past, the species were placed in three genera, Caloramphus, Megalaima, and Psilopogon, but studies show that Psilopogon is nested within the clade of Megalaima. Since members of this clade are better treated under a single genus, they have been moved to the genus Psilopogon which was described and erected earlier than Megalaima and is therefore chosen on the basis of taxonomic priority principles.
Nearly all members of the family are now in the genus Psilopogon, with the exception of those in Caloramphus, which are thought to have genetically diverged from the common ancestor around 21.32 million years ago. The latter species are distinct enough to warrant placement in a subfamily Caloramphinae. The family name is derived from that of the genus Megalaima which means ‘large throat’, from the Greek mega (μέγας, ‘large, great’) and laimos (λαιμός, ‘throat’).
Are you looking for Nature Tour Operator in Vietnam?
WANEE VIETNAM is the right place for the "Wild & Nature Tour in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos", we specialize in Birding, Wildlife watching, Herping, Photography-tours and general Eco-tours by our experts.
Barbets of Vietnam Highlight Note

Great Barbet Psilopogon virens
Status: Uncommon resident
Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr
Tour cover: Northern & North of Central
Hotspot: Sa Pa – Fansipan

Red-vented Barbet Psilopogon lagrandieri
Status: Uncommon resident
Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr
Tours: Exclude Plains
Hotspot: Cat Tien, Da Lat, Phong Nha

Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineatus
Status: Local common resident (throughout)
Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr
Tours: South and Central
Hotspot: Da Lat, Yok Don, Cat Tien

Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus
Status: Fairly Common resident (throughout)
Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr
Tours: Central & Southern
Hotspot: Cat Tien, Ma Da, Tan Phu

Golden-throated Barbet Psilopogon auricularis
Status: Uncommon resident
Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr
Tours: Central & Northern
Hotspot: Di Linh, Dalat, Sa Pa – Fansipan

Moustached Barbet Psilopogon incognitus
Status: Uncommon resident
Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr
Tours: Central & Northern
Hotspot: Di Linh, Dalat, Sa Pa – Fansipan

Indochinese Barbet Psilopogon annamensis
Status: Uncommon resident
Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr
Tours: Central Vietnam
Hotspot: Da Lat, Bach Ma, Kon Tum

Blue-throated Barbet Psilopogon asiaticus
Status: Fairly Common resident (throughout)
Best time to watch & Photo: Jun-Aug
Tours: North of South & Northern
Hotspot: Sa Pa – Fansipan

Blue-eared Barbet Psilopogon cyanotis
Status: Fairly Common resident (throughout)
Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr
Tour: Throughout
Hotspot: Ho Chi Minh, Mekong Delta
List of all Barbets in Vietnam
Name | Level | |
1 | Coppersmith Barbet | Easy |
2 | Blue-eared Barbet | Easy |
3 | Great Barbet | Hard |
4 | Red-vented Barbet | Hard |
5 | Green-eared Barbet | Easy |
6 | Lineated Barbet | Easy |
7 | Necklaced Barbet | Maybe |
8 | Golden-throated Barbet | Easy |
9 | Moustached Barbet | Maybe |
10 | Blue-throated Barbet | Hard |
11 | Indochinese Barbet | Easy |
Note: Hard – Really hard to see; Maybe – …..; Easy – Easy to see with guide; Impossible – Weak info; Lack Data – Consider out of list
WANEE Stories
Every footstep you take with WANEE is a pledge to protect Vietnam’s diverse wildlife. Our [...]
Sep
10 Critically Endangered Primate species of Vietnam
Critically Endangered Species (CR) Critically endangered species are species that are facing an extremely high risk [...]
Sep
10 Endangered species of Primate in Vietnam
Endangered Species (EN) Endangered species, or species at risk of extinction, are facing a high risk [...]
Sep
Overview of Vietnam’s Red Data Book and the IUCN World Red List
ContentsBarbets Of Vietnam – MegalaimidaeAre you looking for Nature Tour Operator in Vietnam?Barbets of Vietnam [...]
Aug
8 Best Birding Places Near Ho Chi Minh City: Explore the Avian Wonders!
Picture yourself surrounded by the vibrant colors and melodious songs of exotic birds, all within [...]
Aug
Birding Guide: Birding in Ma Da Exploring the Biggest Nature Reserve in Vietnam
Welcome to the enchanting realm of birding in Ma Da Forest, where nature unveils its [...]
Jul