Red-and-yellow Barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
A big, conspicuous, colorful barbet of dry country. Males have a black throat and crown; females have a pale throat and a crown that is speckled with black. There is some geographical variation; the belly can be yellow or white, and the breast orange or yellow. Found in areas of dry savanna with termite mounds, usually in pairs and small groups. Separated from D’Arnaud’s and Yellow-breasted Barbets by the red on the head. The song is a long series of the same rollicking musical phrase repeated over and over, often given as a duet.
Identification
Red-and-yellow barbet adult males have distinctive plumage made up black with spotted white, red and yellow. It has a black forehead and crown with a slight crest. The nape is orange and red with black spots. The side of the neck is red, going into yellow. The back is mostly black with white spots. The tail is a blackish brown with up to eight cream spots forming bars. The under side of the tail is yellow with black bars. The chin and throat are yellow, and there is a black patch at the centre of the throat. The throat is bordered by areas with more orange areas. The breast is orange to red-orange, becoming more yellow at the sides, with a dark band with white spots crossing through the middle. The lower breast and belly are yellow. The wings are black with brown wing feathers. All feathers on the wing have white spots, giving a spotted or banded appearance. The long beak is typically red. The skin around the eyes is a dark grey or black, while the eyes themselves can be a yellow brown, a dark brown, a red brown or a shade in between. The legs are a blue-grey, and the feet are the same colour.<p>The female is similar to the male, but is, overall, much duller, with less red and orange, and more yellow and white. Specifically, females lack the throat patch, and typically lack the crown. Young birds are also duller- they typically have less red and orange, as with the female. The spots on the back are less white, and all blacks are more brown. The eyes are typically grey.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
- Authority
- Cabanis, 1878
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Lybiidae
- Genus
- Trachyphonus
Range and habitat
The nominate subspecies, T. e. erythrocephalus, is found from central Kenya to north-east Tanzania. T. e. versicolor is found in southeast South Sudan, northeast Uganda, southwest Ethiopia and north Kenya. T. e. shelleyi is found in Somalia and eastern Ethiopia.<p>The species avoids both very open areas and areas of dense woodland, instead preferring broken terrain such as riverbeds and cliffs or termite mounds. It nests and roosts in tunnels, and forages on or close to the ground.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Elaenia flavogaster
Rather bulky small flycatcher, widespread in tropical lowlands. Fairly common in overgrown brushy clearings, savannas, and other semi-open areas with scattered bushes. Looks like many other small flycatchers, and where multiple species of elaenias occur it is often not possible to identify birds to species. On Yellow-bellied, note its spiky, white-based crest (rarely held flattened), burry drawled call, whitish wingbars, and pale yellow belly; does not flick its wings or tail.
Large-tailed Antshrike
Mackenziaena leachii
Medium-sized antshrike with a rather small head, a short robust bill, and a long tail. Males are black with white spots and an entirely black tail while females are black with cinnamon spots and barring throughout. Mostly seen in pairs in the dense understory of humid forests closer to bamboo, can be active but hard to see. The song is a loud and clear series of ascending and descending notes.
Yellow-headed Caracara
Daptrius chimachima
Adult is pale buffy with dark brown wings; juvenile is also buffy but with dark streaking all over. Note buffy wing patches in flight. Most similar to Laughing Falcon but only has thin dark line behind eye, not a full black mask. Much smaller than Crested Caracara, without dark cap. Found in open habitats, such as fields and river edges, where it often perches conspicuously. Can be found singly, in pairs, or in small family groups. Makes a harsh screeching noise.
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