Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii Scientific name definitions

22–23 cm; 57–85 g. Distinct crest and unique white, yellow, red and black colour pattern. Nominate race has black and white area around ear opening, yellow and red head, black crest, yellow and white marks on black back, white inner wing-covert stripe, red-tipped uppertail-coverts, white spot-bars on tail ; shiny black “shield” on breast has silver-pink to white spots (variable, some have none), and red markings on yellow below. Female similar overall but generally somewhat duller and paler. Immature duller, paler, with dark bill (yellower in adult). Race <em>suahelicus</em> tends to have narrower breast shield broken up by pinkish markings, more yellow underparts, less white marks on back, more red on crown.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

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.

Woodland and thickets, especially where there are termite mounds, also plantations, including pines, streamside vegetation in dry areas, often amid palms (Phoenix); often common in Brachystegia and mopane (Colophospermum mopane) woods with termite mounds. Usually at 200–1800 m, but down to sea-level in E, and rarely to 2250 m.

Typically sedentary; may sometimes move some distance, and disperse along watercourses in arid areas.

Fruits  and seeds, including those of guavas, figs and berries; also insects  , such as grasshoppers and locusts, various beetles, wasps, roaches, termites, and larvae of nume­rous insects; also snails, worms; takes suet at feeders, and pirates eggs and nestlings of small birds. Hops on ground, mainly under bushes, and along branches, probes into bark crevices and lichens, tears at debris in trees or on ground, clings to and even hangs from leaves to reach insects.

Distinctive trilling “di-di-di-” song with 10–17 notes per second for up to 5 minutes, resembles shorter songs of Pogonornis bidentatus and Scaly-throated and Spotted Honeyguides (Indicator variegatus and I. maculatus); pair-members loosely sing together, only parts of songs overlap (“duet”); also alarm rattle “kek-kek-kek-”, much like T. erythrocephalus, at 10–11 per second, given also by 2-week-old young; single or double “kik” notes when adults close together, grating “a-a-a-a-” notes at 30 per second, begging “zweep”, and “tirr-tirr” of nestlings are other calls. Audible bill-wiping near nest or roost apparently distinct for each pair.

Sept–Mar in all areas; earlier, to Aug, in South Africa; up to 4 broods in a season in S. Courtship feeding and bill-touching with much duetting occur when copulating frequently. Nest usually excavated by both adults in stump, dead tree, underside of dead branch, or in sisal stalk; occasionally usurps nesting cavity of Rufous-necked Wrynecks (Jynx ruficollis), or uses old woodpecker hole or nestbox, or old swallow (Hirundinidae) or weaver (Ploceidae) nest; nest 1–4 m up, rarely to 18 m, entrance c. 3·8 by 6·4 cm, cavity 15–100 cm deep, deeper when renesting or using old cavity. Eggs 2–5, laid at daily intervals; female incubates at night, both parents by day, period 13–17 days; young fed 104–120 times a day, mainly on insects, adults remove faecal material; young reach entrance at c. 14 days; nestling period 17–30 or more days; juveniles stay with parents, but driven from nest (though remaining on territory) if pair renests. Nests parasitized by Lesser Honeyguide (Indicator minor).

Not globally threatened. Generally common; density can reach c. 5 pairs/100 ha in some woodland areas. Adaptable, aggressive barbet where not persecuted; some individuals are taken as cagebirds. Present in Mikumi National Park (Tanzania), South Luangwa National Park (Zambia), Vwaza Marsh and Liwonde National Parks (Malawi) and Kruger National Park (South Africa).