Bornean Barbet (Psilopogon eximius) [XC769378]
by Kim Chuah Lim from Keningau District (near Tambunan), Bahagian Pedalaman, Sabah, Malaysia (call)
Bornean Barbet (Psilopogon eximius) [XC793260]
by Marc Anderson from Mt. Trusmadi Forest Reserve, Malaysia (call)
Subspecies
Closely related to Blue-eared Barbet (Psilopogon australis), the two comprising the so-called "Mesobucco group". Racial separation of Mt Kinabalu population uncertain, based principally on blue throat colour, but this may be indicative of subadult, and more or less matched by probable subadult specimens from elsewhere in species' range, where also some with mostly blue or mixed throat colour. Also, individuals have been seen on Mt Kinabalu with black throat, as adults in rest of range. Further research is required.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
cyaneus (Harrisson and Hartley, 1934) - Northern Borneo (Mt. Kinabalu).
eximius (Sharpe, 1892) - Mountains of north, north-western and central Borneo, from Trus Madi and Brassey Range south-west to Poi, Penrissen and Niut, and south to Barito Ulu.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet