I can satisfactorily name it as a day with the Coppersmith Barbets. During a stay in Guwahati back in 2015, was lucky enough to witness the activities of a Coppersmith Barbet couple in their natural habitat.
Coppersmith Barbets are the most widespread barbet across India.
Size: 17cm
Location: Birubari, Guwahati, Assam.
I heard the call from inside the room where I was staying with my friend. Coppersmith Barbets are easily identifiable by their call – sounds similar to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer – tuk… tuk… tuk… When I secretly looked outside, I could locate one of the birds with food in its mouth.
I knew there was a nest nearby and the bird helped me locate it when it flew back to its nest in a nearby tree trunk. See the video here. In some time, I could spot the second bird inside the hole.
What followed was both the birds working together to collect and store food. It was evident that Coppersmith Barbets build their nest in holes in tree trunks and that both partner birds work together to build their home.
Photographs and videos were taken from inside the room, through the vertical gap between the almost closed wooden shutters of the window so as not to disturb the birds by any means.
Names in local Indian languages:
| हिंदी – छोटा बसंत, टुकटुकिया | বাংলা – বসন্তবৌরি, সেঁকড়া-বসন্ত |
| मराठी – तांबट | অসমীয়া – হেঁটুলুকা |
Global IUCN 2025 Red List category: LC – Least Concerned
