It overlaps in some places with the range of the coppersmith barbet (Psilopogon haemacephala) and has a similar but more rapid call.

[3] This species can be told apart from the coppersmith barbet by the crimson face and throat.

[4] This species is found in the Western Ghats from around Goa south to southern Kerala in moist evergreen forest mainly below 1200 m elevation.

They often visit fruiting Ficus species, joining flocks of green pigeon and mynas.

[4][5] The species feeds mainly on fruits but sometimes takes grubs, termites (flycatching at emerging swarms of alates), ants and small caterpillars.