D'Arnaud's Barbet
Trachyphonus darnaudii
A big, conspicuous, colorful barbet with a yellow face and breast that are speckled with black, and a red undertail. There is considerable geographical variation in the amount of black on the crown, throat, and breast band and in the color of the belly, which can be yellow or white. Found on and near the ground in savanna habitats with termite mounds, usually in pairs and small groups. The song is a phrase of three or four notes repeated over and over, often given as a duet. Separated from Yellow-breasted Barbet by the heavily speckled face, and from Red-and-yellow Barbet by the lack of red on the head.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Trachyphonus darnaudii
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Lybiidae
- Genus
- Trachyphonus
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Silver-backed Butcherbird
Cracticus argenteus
Medium-sized ambush-hunter with a long gray bill with a dark, hooked tip. Black head and face with a white nape and chin. Upperparts very pale gray, with white rump, outer part of wings black, inner part of wings white, and black tail with white tip. Rollicking, chuckling song.
Black-throated Huet-huet
Pteroptochos tarnii
Fairly common but elusive; heard far more often than seen. Favors native temperate forest and adjacent shrubbery, especially bamboo. Feeds on the ground by scratching with its big feet in leaf litter, and runs very quickly and stealthily. Agitated birds can call loudly from middle level perches, cocking their tail. Nests in burrows, but can nest high up in tree hollows. Plumage distinctive, with pale eyering, dark slaty throat and breast, and rusty belly. No range overlap with Chestnut-throated Huet-huet.
Laughing Falcon
Herpetotheres cachinnans
Spectacular and distinctive raptor of tropical lowlands, often seen perched on prominent bare snags, from which it hunts for snakes. Occurs in forest and also in open country with scattered trees. Note the creamy head and underparts with a broad black "bandit mask." Does not soar, and flies with hurried, stiff wingbeats, when rusty patches show on the wings. Named for its far-carrying laughing calls.
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