Other Scientific Names
Megalaima rubricapilla [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)]
Other Names (World)
Sri Lanka Barbet, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Crimson-throated Barbet, Small Barbet, Crimson-fronted Barbet (rubricapillus), Ceylon Small Barbet (rubricapillus), Sri Lanka Small Barbet (rubricapillus)
Subspecies
Closely related to Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus), with which forms the so-called "Xantholaema group". Subspecies malabarica well marked, sometimes treated as a distinct species. Vocalizations, however, very similar to those of nominate. Species name formed from Latin adjectival stem and Latin noun, and must be treated as a noun in apposition, so is therefore indeclinable. Modification to "rubricapilla" is thus unjustified.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
malabaricus (Blyth, 1847) - South-western India (Goa south to southern Kerala and western Tamil Nadu).