- Trachyphonus darnaudii
Identification
16–19 cm (6¼-7½ in) The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.
- Brown back with white spots
Similar Species
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.
Variation
The differences between Usambiro and Black-capped forms are discussed in a Birdforum thread[1].
Distribution
East Africa, including southeastern Sudan, northeastern Uganda, Kenya, northern Tanzania.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Four subspecies recognized[1]:
- T.d. darnaudii:
- South-eastern South Sudan and south-western Ethiopia to north-eastern Uganda and west-central Kenya
- T.d. boehmi:
- 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
The last one is sometimes regarded as full species, Usambiro Barbet (Trachyphonus usambiro), but as neither Clements nor Howard & Moore accept this, we treat it as a subspecies.
Habitat
Wooded grassland with acacia bushes, dry scrubland and gardens.
Behaviour
Diet
Omnivorous. The diet includes many types of insects, fruits, and seeds.
Breeding
They nest in banks; a tunnel leads to the nesting chamber.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Birdforum thread discussing the difference between Usambiro and other forms
- Kenyabirds
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved March 2016)
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) D'Arnaud's Barbet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/D%27Arnaud%27s_Barbet
External Links
