The Coppersmith Barbet is a small bird found in South and Southeast Asia. This colorful bird gets its name from the metallic “tink tink” sound the males make while hammering on dead wood to excavate nesting holes. Unfortunately, deforestation and habitat loss have caused Coppersmith Barbets to decline across much of their range over the past few decades. But has this charismatic bird gone extinct?
Quick answer
No, the Coppersmith Barbet has not gone extinct. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies the Coppersmith Barbet as a species of Least Concern. However, many local populations are in decline due to habitat loss, and the species faces an uncertain future in some parts of its range.
What is the Coppersmith Barbet?
The Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus) is a small, stocky barbet known for its crimson forehead and throat patch contrasting with its green-yellow underside. It gets its name from the monotonous metallic “tink tink” call of the males, reminiscent of a coppersmith at work. Coppersmith Barbets excavate nests inside holes in trees, using their sturdy beaks to hammer away at dead wood.
Description
Coppersmith Barbets are plump birds measuring 16–18 cm in length. They have short necks, large heads, and stubby tails. The most distinctive feature is the adult male’s bright crimson forehead and throat patch. The breast is yellow-green, the belly is yellow, and the back and wings are mostly green. Females lack the bright red patch and are less colorful overall.
Distribution and habitat
Coppersmith Barbets are found widely across South and Southeast Asia. Their breeding range extends from Pakistan and India eastward through Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. They inhabit a variety of wooded habitats including open forest, scrub jungle, gardens, and mangroves. Coppersmith Barbets are non-migratory birds. However, some populations may make local seasonal movements based on food availability.
Diet
Coppersmith Barbets mostly eat fruit and berries. Figs are a particular favorite. They also consume some insects and have been recorded eating small frogs and lizards. Coppersmith Barbets often feed in small groups, foraging through the forest canopy for ripe fruits. They pluck fruit directly from branches or occasionally hover and pick fruit in flight.
Breeding
The breeding season of Coppersmith Barbets varies across their wide range, typically coinciding with peak fruit abundance. In India, they breed from February to June. Courtship involves males calling and puffing out their crimson throat patches to impress females. Mated pairs excavate a nest hole in a dead tree branch, with the female doing most of the work over several weeks. Typical clutch size is 2-4 eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. Young leave the nest after about three weeks.
Population and conservation status
The Coppersmith Barbet has an extremely large range estimated at over 5 million square kilometers. The global population has not been quantified but is suspected to number tens of millions of individuals. Due to their substantial population size and widespread distribution, Coppersmith Barbets are evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
However, the species faces threats in parts of its range. Deforestation has led to habitat loss and fragmentation, especially across South and Southeast Asia. In Singapore, for example, Coppersmith Barbets have declined dramatically as forests have been cleared for urban development and agriculture. Some national populations are now endangered or locally extinct. Trade in wild-caught individuals for the pet trade may also impact certain populations.
Country | Conservation status |
---|---|
India | Least Concern |
Nepal | Least Concern |
Bangladesh | Least Concern |
Myanmar | Least Concern |
Thailand | Least Concern |
Malaysia | Least Concern |
Singapore | Critically Endangered |
Indonesia | Least Concern |
While still relatively common across most of its range, dedicated conservation action may be needed for Coppersmith Barbets in areas where their forest habitat is declining rapidly.
Is the Coppersmith Barbet extinct anywhere?
The Coppersmith Barbet’s extensive range and sizable global population means the species has not gone extinct across any major portion of its range. However, habitat loss has caused local extirpations of Coppersmith Barbets in some areas, especially tiny island populations.
Singapore
In Singapore, Coppersmith Barbets were once common but declined catastrophically with extensive deforestation. Singapore’s original rainforests were cleared for urban development and only a few small forest patches remain. Coppersmith Barbets were last reliably recorded in Singapore in the 1930s and are now almost certainly extinct in the wild there.
Sri Lanka
Although still found across most of Sri Lanka, Coppersmith Barbets have disappeared from certain deforested parts of the island. They are considered locally extinct at low elevations in southwestern Sri Lanka where few forest fragments remain.
Java
In Indonesia, the small islands offshore of Java have lost most of their forest cover. Coppersmith Barbets previously occurred on several of these islands but have been extirpated from many due to a lack of suitable habitat. For example, they are now extinct on the islands of Moro, Motuo, Deli, Tello, and Bawean where they were recorded historically.
What accounts for the Coppersmith Barbet’s decline in Asia?
Several key threats have driven the declines and local extinctions of Coppersmith Barbets across parts of their Asian range:
Deforestation
The main threat to Coppersmith Barbets is habitat loss from deforestation. Logging, conversion of forests to agriculture, and development have led to severe declines in South and Southeast Asia. For example, between 1990 and 2010, Thailand lost 28% of its natural forest cover.
Urbanization
Rapid urban expansion has caused the loss and fragmentation of forests in many parts of Asia. In Singapore, only 0.3% of the original primary rainforest remains due to clearing for the city. Urbanization leaves no habitat for forest-dependent birds like the Coppersmith Barbet.
Nest predation
In fragmented forests, nest predation increases due to higher densities of predators like crows and squirrels. Coppersmith Barbets also face competition for nesting cavities from invasive species such as common mynas.
Hunting and trade
In some regions, Coppersmith Barbets are trapped for the pet trade or hunted for food. For example, they are considered a delicacy in parts of Indonesia.
Climate change
Climate change could threaten Coppersmith Barbets by disrupting fruiting cycles and enabling the spread of diseases. Extreme weather events like droughts and heatwaves may also take a toll in the future.
What conservation actions could help Coppersmith Barbets?
Several conservation measures could aid in recovering declining Coppersmith Barbet populations:
Habitat protection
Preserving remaining forest habitats is essential. Protected areas effectively safeguard Coppersmith Barbet populations from deforestation and trapping.
Reforestation
Planting native trees provides new habitat and facilitates natural forest regeneration. Singapore, for example, has undertaken extensive reforestation efforts which could allow Coppersmith Barbets to be reintroduced.
Nest boxes
Providing nest boxes in small forest fragments helps compensate for a lack of natural cavities and reduces competition with invasive birds.
Reducing hunting and trade
Banning hunting and trapping of Coppersmith Barbets is important in areas where they are heavily exploited. Enforcement helps crack down on illegal wildlife trafficking.
Raising awareness
Educating local communities fosters appreciation for Coppersmith Barbets. Birdwatching tourism offers incentives to protect the species.
Climate adaptation
Assisted migration to more suitable climates may help Coppersmith Barbets survive global warming. Maintaining habitat connectivity facilitates natural range shifts.
Is the Coppersmith Barbet a sentinel of forest health?
Yes, the status of the Coppersmith Barbet acts as an indicator of overall forest health and biodiversity in South and Southeast Asia. Coppersmith Barbets depend entirely on forests and aren’t found in deforested areas. When Coppersmith Barbet populations decline or disappear, it signals issues like habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, or heavy hunting pressure in the forests they inhabit. The presence of Coppersmith Barbets denotes intact, high-quality forest ecosystems. Other threatened forest-dwelling wildlife are also more likely to persist. In this way, Coppersmith Barbets serve as a sentinel species whose conservation reflects the protection of wider biodiversity.
Could Coppersmith Barbets go extinct in the future?
It is unlikely Coppersmith Barbets will go completely extinct in the foreseeable future given their extensive range across southern Asia. However, they could potentially vanish from certain countries or regions if forests there are completely cleared. Their dependence on trees means viable Coppersmith Barbet populations can’t persist long-term without adequate forest cover.
To ensure Coppersmith Barbets remain a part of Asian forests into the future, continued conservation action is needed. While still relatively widespread, Coppersmith Barbet populations are declining across substantial areas, especially in South and Southeast Asia. Halting habitat loss where possible and properly managing remaining forest fragments will give the best chance for Coppersmith Barbets to survive. If deforestation continues unchecked, additional local extinctions are probable.
Conclusion
In summary, the Coppersmith Barbet remains extant across the majority of its wide range in South and Southeast Asia. However, habitat loss and fragmentation have led to population declines and local disappearances in many areas. While not yet globally threatened, the persistence of Coppersmith Barbets depends on the conservation of remaining natural forests across their distribution. This colorful bird is a useful indicator of forest health. Ensuring viable forest habitat is protected offers the best hope of preserving Coppersmith Barbet populations into the future rather than seeing this charismatic species vanish entirely from certain countries or regions.