Spot-crowned Barbet
Capito maculicoronatus
Stocky canopy dweller with a stout bill and striking plumage. The male has black upperparts, a broad black mask with a white crown and throat, a yellow wash on the breast, black streaks on the sides, and a tuft of reddish-orange feathers sticking out from under the wing. The female is similar but with an entirely black head and breast. Occurs in the canopy of lowland forest from central Panama into western Colombia. Usually in pairs or small groups.
Identification
The spot-crowned barbet is 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 44 to 66 g (1.6 to 2.3 oz). The nominate male is mostly black above with a crown having brown-white spots. Its throat is white, its upper breast yellow to orange, and the lower breast and belly white with black spots. It has a splash of yellow to orange on the flanks. The female differs by having a black throat and upper breast. C. m. rubrilateralis has more white on its crown and its flank mark is orange to red.
Taxonomy
The spot-crowned barbet has two recognized subspecies, the nominate Capito maculicoronatus maculicoronatus and C. m. rubrilateralis. Two additional subspecies, C. m. pirrensis and C. m. melas, have been proposed but "appear indistinguishable from rubrilateralis". The spot-crowned barbet and the orange-fronted barbet (C. squamatus) are sister species and may form a superspecies.
- Scientific name
- Capito maculicoronatus
- Authority
- Lawrence, 1861
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Capitonidae
- Genus
- Capito
Range and habitat
The nominate subspecies of spot-crowned barbet is found from Panama's Veraguas Province east to the Canal Zone. C. m. rubrilateralis is found from eastern Panama into Colombia, east to Antioquia Department and south to Valle Department. It usually inhabits wet primary forest in both lowands and hill country and is also found in secondary forest. It is mostly found at elevations between 600 and 900 m (2,000 and 3,000 ft) but up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in a few areas.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The spot-crowned barbet forages from mid level to the forest canopy for fruits, berries, and insects. It occasionally forages in small groups, and up to 10 have been recorded in fruiting trees. It is known to follow army ant swarms.<p>Observations of adult spot-crowned barbets in breeding condition, of nest excavation, and of fledglings appear to indicate a breeding season between December and late spring. One nest was attended by a male and two females.<p>The spot-crowned barbet's principal vocalization is " a series of harsh “kkaaak” notes, gradually shifting to “kkkaakkk” sounds; it has been described as both a song and a call [1].
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Bananal Antbird
Cercomacra ferdinandi
An antbird with a very restricted distribution in the Araguaia Valley. Males are black with white wing bars and white tips to the tail, while females are similar but gray and slightly streaked on the breast. Occurs in gallery forest and adjacent second growth, where it forages in the understory and does not join mixed-species flocks. Males give a series of staccato notes and are sometimes joined in a duet by females giving high-pitched notes.
Red-winged Starling
Onychognathus morio
A large glossy-black starling with a graduated, pointed tail and brick-red windows in the wings that are striking in flight. The male and female have black and gray heads respectively. Pairs and flocks prefer rocky outcrops and gorges, but have adapted to buildings in urban areas; they avoid forests. The species gives a characteristic loud liquid oriole-like “wher-teooo” contact call and other musical whistles and warbles. It is often the default “red-winged” starling within its range, where it is most easily confused with Slender-billed Starling, but the latter’s weaker bill and longer graduated tail identify it.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Regulus satrapa
Tiny, hyperactive songbird usually found in conifer trees. Look for black stripes on the head and bold wing pattern. The namesake golden crown is usually just a small stripe, but can be flared into an expressive fiery-orange crest when agitated. Breeds in coniferous forests, usually staying high in trees. In migration and winter, often joins mixed flocks of other songbirds in a wider variety of wooded habitats. Very active; often hovers and flicks wings as it forages. Listen for extremely high-pitched call notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.