From Opus

Photo by Gaukur
Maasai Mara, Kenya, January 2006

Trachyphonus darnaudii

[edit] Identification

Resembles the Crested Barbet and the Red-and-yellow Barbet but is smaller than both, lacks a crest and has no red in the face. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.

[edit] Variation

Usambiro Barbet
Photo by Andrew S
Kenya (probably Maasai Mara), September 1994

The differences between Usambiro and Black-capped forms are discussed in a Birdforum thread^[1].

[edit] Distribution

East Africa, including southeastern Sudan, northeastern Uganda, Kenya, northern Tanzania.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

Four subspecies recognized^[1]:

• T.d. darnaudii:

• South-eastern Sudan and south-western Ethiopia to north-eastern Uganda and west-central Kenya

• T.d. boehmi:

• Southern and eastern Ethiopia to southern Somalia, eastern Kenya and north-eastern Tanzania

• T.d. emini: Black-capped

• North-central Tanzania (east to Dar es Salaam suburbs)

• T.d. usambiro: Usambiro Barbet:

• South-western Kenya to north-central Tanzania

D'Arnaud's Barbet (possibly subspecies darnaudii)
Photo by obasanmi
Lake Baringo, Kenya, January 2006

The last one is sometimes regarded as full species, Usambiro Barbet (Trachyphonus usambiro), but as Clements and Howard & Moore both don't accept this, we treat it as a subspecies.

[edit] Habitat

Wooded grassland with acacia bushes, dry scrubland and gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects, fruits, and seeds.

[edit] Breeding

It nests in banks; a tunnel leads to the nesting chamber.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Birdforum thread discussing the difference between Usambiro and other forms
3. Kenyabirds
4. Wikipedia

• List of references

[edit] External Links