Vieillot's barbet
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Lybius vieilloti

Vieillot's barbet (Lybius vieilloti ) is a small African barbet. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a world-wide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. This bird is named after the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot.

Appearance

This is a sparrow-sized barbet at 15 cm (5.9 in). It is a plump bird, with a short neck, large head and short tail. The adult has a red head, and the neck and breast are a mixture of red and white. The upperparts are dark brown apart from a yellow stripe down the back. The rest of the underparts are yellowish with dark flank spotting. The bill is thick and dark grey. Sexes are similar, but immature birds are duller.

Distribution

Geography

The Vieillot's barbet is a resident breeder in the African scrubland on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert from Senegal to Ethiopia. It is often found along wooded creeks in Zaria, Nigeria and its breeding season takes place during the months of April to July. It is an arboreal species of savannah and farmland which eats insects and fruit, especially figs. It nests in a tree hole, laying three eggs.

Habits and Lifestyle

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

References

1. Vieillot's barbet Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vieillot's_barbet
2. Vieillot's barbet on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22681816/92921762
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/425313

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