The Brown-headed or Large Green Barbet is a common and widespread breeding resident throughout our area wherever there are large fruiting trees. It particularly favours banyan and peepul trees when they are in fruit. Groups will gather to feed together, often with the other widespread barbet, the Coppersmith. Thus they can occur almost anywhere and will fly considerable distances for favoured fruiting trees.

Being largely green, the species can be very difficult to see in the high foliage it favours but its loud call, mainly from February to October is far-carrying and distinctive. It usually has a guttural run–up before embarking on a staccato and persistent “prutuk prutuk prutuk etc” At the height of the breeding season, one bird starting up will often stimulate others,  rather like cicadas, and it is then we get a clear idea of how common the species is. They breed mostly from March to June in our area and excavate their own holes. Parakeets and mynas may try to take these holes over but the Brown-headed Barbet is a doughty defender of its workmanship and they usually have to wait until the following season to gain entry.