It is native to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, where it inhabits tropical moist lowland and montane forests.

[2] The fire-tufted barbet is green with a brownish-maroon nape, grey lores, and a white band on the forehead.

[3] The fire-tufted barbet inhabits broad-leaved evergreen montane forests between 1,070 and 2,010 m (3,510 and 6,590 ft) on the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.

[3] Three fire-tufted barbets observed on Mount Gede in West Java between 2003 and 2005 are thought to have escaped from aviaries in this area.

[4] The fire-tufted barbet is a resident bird and feeds on figs, other fruits, arthropods and insects.