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Birds

Crested barbet

Crested barbet · Trachyphonus vaillantii

Colourful bird with a distinctive crest and conspicuous trilling call, often found in southern Africa along forest edges and in open bushland.

Fact file

Size: Small, stocky build with a length of about 23 centimetres and a strong bill
Males and females: The sexes are hardly distinguishable by appearance, both have a crest
Sounds: Characteristic, rolling trilling call, often repeated unchanged for several minutes
Diet: Feeds on insects, larvae, fruit and sometimes nectar
Offspring: Lays three to five eggs; both parents incubate and feed the young in a self-made tree cavity

How to identify Crested barbet

The crested barbet stands out with its brightly mottled plumage. Yellow, black, red and white spots and stripes are especially prominent on the head, neck and chest. Its namesake crest on the head is striking and usually looks fluffed up, and is raised particularly when the bird is excited.

Its compact, almost stocky build with a strong, cone-shaped bill distinguishes the crested barbet from other birds. The wings and the short, slightly rounded tail also show a conspicuous spotted pattern. Its body length is about 23 centimetres.