Red-and-yellow Barbet Trachyphonus erythrocephalus Scientific name definitions

20–23 cm; 40–75 g. Very distinctive barbet. Male nominate race has black cap and slight crest, and black throat patch; spotted and streaked red, yellow, white and black, with long, pointed orange or red bill; white “half-moon” about ear opening, surrounded by black and red; black upperparts, marked yellow and white, with red tips of uppertail-coverts; tail with large yellowish spot-bars; yellow with some spotting and marks below, and red undertail-coverts. Distinguished from T. darnaudii by larger size, brighter appearance, different head pattern, larger and brighter bill; from T. margaritatus by much more red in plumage, black and red edge to white ear-covert marks. Female red-yellow on crown, rarely with a little black; more commonly has small black bib. Immature more yellow and brown, dull. Races vary mainly in brightness and intensity of colour: versicolor slightly smaller than nominate, with less red on head and body and none on uppertail- or undertail-coverts, rather more yellow overall ; shelleyi conside­rably smaller, with even less red and orange, more yellow, belly yellow-white.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Uneven terrain with outcrops, steep stream channels, or termite mounds in open woodland, wooded grassland, scrubland, and edges of deserts with lush streamside vegetation. Rarely to sea-level (Somalia), and up to 1820 m, occasionally 1980 m, rarely 2130 m.

Mainly sedentary, but wanders; occurs casually S to SC Tanzania, and wanders into range of T. margaritatus in N Somalia.

Figs, other fruits and their seeds, as well as spiders, various insect larvae, beetles, mantids, grasshoppers, locusts, harvestmen, termites and ants; also eats lizards, centipedes, small birds and birds’ eggs; takes all kinds of household refuse, including bread, cereal, hamburger, chicken bones, bananas, melon, in fact any food discarded by humans. Forages in group, sometimes very loosely, moving over ground, under or near bushes and trees; will search walls and roofs of buildings and probe tyres and radiators of cars for insects.

Songs “erupt” from greeting ceremony and chorus of all group-members, but only primary pair sings synchronized duet with overall sound of “red’n yell-ow” as repeated duet set; male 3 whistled notes dropping in pitch, female 3–5 higher-pitched, shorter whistles, these fitting together, at about 2 sets every 3 seconds, repeated over and over for up to 2 minutes; pre-duet chorus of “tik”, “tik-it” and “chowp” notes, though birds arriving to join start with loud, rattling “kuk” series; other calls a soft “chuk” by adults coming to feed young, sharp “kik-kik-” alarm, and begging, chattery notes.

Feb–Jul in N, also in S, where may breed Sept–Jan; mainly during and after rains. Male of group hops about primary female, male tail cocked, female’s swinging, both with head feathers erect, may allopreen, male feeds mate at times; in duets, other group-members actively kept below duetting male and female. Nest dug in bank or termite mound 1–4 m from ground, tunnel 40 cm or more deep, diameter of nest-chamber c. 11·2 cm; new tunnel excavated yearly, unknown whether helpers assist in digging; territories often large, but along well-wooded stream sometimes c. 1 pair/200 m. Eggs 2–6; incubation period unknown; in captivity, male incubates, feeds young more than does female; all group-members (up to 8) feed insects and other arthropods to chicks, removing legs and wings from larger ones, feeding rate 2·5–12 times per hour; nestling period unknown; fledged young move with group, beg from all members. There were at least five breeding attempts throughout the year, with at least four broods, from a single nesting hole in SE Sudan (1 de Bont, M. (2009). Multiple broods from a hole in the wall: breeding Red-and-yellow Barbets Trachyphonus erythrocephalus in southeast Sudan. Scopus. 29: 11–15. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Generally common throughout range. Group size probably reflects relative health of populations. Dominant over other barbets, including T. darnaudii of flatter, drier country (where latter may outcompete present species), and also over woodpeckers. In some parts of range, children dig out nests; feathers used in adornment by some tribes; this species is also taken to be kept as cagebird. Present in several protected areas, e.g. Samburu Reserve, and Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks (Kenya), and Serengeti National Park (Tanzania ).