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Description:
A stout bird averaging 10 in. in length and
weighing between 2.7 and 3.7 ounces. Male is glossy
black with white patch on back. Black hair-like
feathers protruding over chin and conical bill. Red
cheeks and breast followed by
black breast band.
White belly with thick red streaks or blotches, with
females having additional black spots. Bill
has
yellow grooves on the lower mandible, and two deep
grooves running perpendicular to bill on each side
of
upper mandible (these resemble teeth). Juveniles
resemble adults except duller.
Range:
Thin section of the eastern half of the
tropical region of Africa
Habitat:
Arid wooded areas, gardens, farms and
thickets, areas with wooded areas with ample dead
branches
Diet:
In the wild they eat various fruits including
figs, and garden fruit. In the zoo, they eat
parrot, parakeet, and cockatiel
dry feed combined
together with various pureed fruits and vegetables.
Life
Cycle:
Breeding season varies widely depending on
where a population is located. A communal breeder;
it is not known if they are polygamous or
monogamous. A breeding pair typically produces 2
eggs. 3 or 4 additional “helper” birds
will then
help with the incubation and care of the brood.
Nests are almost always found in cavities of trees
which
they excavate themselves. Nest placement is
not specific and can be found anywhere along a tree
although they prefer to nest among dead trees. An
incubation time of at least 16 days is followed by a
40 day fledging period. The chicks are fed insects
until they fledge because of the high protein
content.
Did You Know?
·
Most closely related to toucans, the barbets
are the second largest family n terms of number of
species in
the order Piciformes.
·
This bird is unique in the fact that their
upper bill has 2 deep grooves running perpendicular
to the bill on each side. These grooves appear to
look like teeth from a distance as birds do not have
teeth, these are actually a modification of the bill
used to easily break and shear open fruit.
·
Barbets and Toucans play an important role in
seed dispersal in tropical forests
·
The Bearded barbet is similar to woodpeckers
when they use their tail feathers as a prop when
feeding or climbing on a tree.
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