White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis Scientific name definitions

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White-eared Barbet (White-lined)

c. 17–18 cm. Dark brown woodland barbet with white belly and dark head. Compared to previously conspecific <em>S. leucotis</em> (see Taxonomy comments), the present species has more white on head, extending also under eye, as well as on tips of wing-coverts (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), black breast-sides and flanks to thighs, dark rump and slightly larger than nominate (e.g. wing of male 90–95 mm, versus 88–94 mm) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Sexes alike. Immature blacker than adult.

White-eared Barbet (White-eared)

c. 17–18 cm; 48–63 g. Dark brown woodland barbet with white belly and dark head  ; eyes brown with grey-black orbital skin, legs and feet black to grey-brown, with grey soles, and black bill. Nominate race has black head with white stripe behind eye, white on rump and uppertail-coverts; bill blackish. Differs from S. whytii in having no white in wings, and diffe­rent head pattern. Sexes alike, including in size. Immature blacker than adult, with yellow to horn or pink-coloured base to bill and flesh-pink orbital skin. Races differ mainly in plumage darkness, and amount of white on head : <em>kilimensis</em> dark, with blacker throat and rump and uppertail-coverts generally whiter than in nominate (wing of male 90–96 mm) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

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White-eared Barbet (White-lined)

White-eared Barbet (White-eared)

White-eared Barbet (White-lined)

Highlands of C & S Tanzania.

White-eared Barbet (White-lined)

White-eared Barbet (White-eared)

Moist primary and secondary forest , including Brachystegia and Uapaca (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), forest edge, also nearby gardens and plantations where fruiting trees present, and where dead trees and limbs are available for excavation; appears able to use Eucalyptus plantations in some areas, including for breeding, provided some native trees and understorey remain (2 John, J. R. M. and J. D. L. Kabigumila (2007). Impact of Eucalyptus plantations on the avian breeding community in the East Usambaras, Tanzania. Ostrich 78(2):265–269. Close ). In Malawi, occupied range appears heavily constrained by presence of fig (Ficus) trees (3 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ). Attains elevations of up to 2600 m in N, to at least 1600 m in S (Malawi) (3 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), often on forested slopes.

White-eared Barbet (White-lined)

Generally resident and sedentary.

White-eared Barbet (White-eared)

Generally resident, and sedentary, but occasional wandering has been recorded, e.g. in Malawi, where has even wandered across Rift Valley, at Thambani (Jul 1985) (3 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ).

White-eared Barbet (White-lined)

White-eared Barbet (White-eared)

Diet comprises fruits , including figs  (Ficus, which are considered particularly important) (3 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), guavas, pawpaws, mangoes, juniper, Celtis gomphophylla (Ulmaceae) (4 Cordeiro, N. J., and B. J. Munisi (2008). Fruit-eating at Celtis gomphophylla (Ulmaceae) by Banded-green Sunbirds Anthreptes rubritorques and other species. Scopus 28:37–40. Close ) and other berries; insects , including hornets (Belonogaster spp.), wasps, roaches, dragonflies, crickets, moths, grasshoppers and armoured locusts (Phymaetus spp.); and spiders. Uses special sites as “anvils” for killing and disarming insects. Gleans, works over bark, and flycatches for termites and other aerial insects. Aggressive and dominant at food sources, e.g. over other barbets such as Cryptolybia olivacea, Tricholaema lacrymosa and Pogoniulus leucomystax (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

White-eared Barbet (White-lined)

White-eared Barbet (White-eared)

Especially noisy in groups (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Various harsh “skreek” calls  (usually 3–4 per second, but higher-pitched version, just 1–2 notes per second) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), and “whew” calls (resembling those of Gymno­bucco) used  both contact, conspecific chases and mild alarm (when become higher-pitched) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); grating, soft or loud buzzy notes and trills (latter likened to those of some honeyguides) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); also taps at nest entrance, wipes bill and flutters wings noisily during encounters; nestlings give piping “wi-wi-wi-wi-” notes and trill-like “chew-ew-ew-ew-”.

White-eared Barbet (White-lined)

White-eared Barbet (White-eared)

Lays Jun–Jan in all areas, in N after main rains (Aug–Oct) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Social nester. Courtship feeding occurs (even after young hatch) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); paired birds give flight displays. Nest 5–18 m up, in tree cavity  (e.g. of Macaranga capensis (2 John, J. R. M. and J. D. L. Kabigumila (2007). Impact of Eucalyptus plantations on the avian breeding community in the East Usambaras, Tanzania. Ostrich 78(2):265–269. Close ), Ficus, Eythrina or Trema guineensis) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) c. 44–74 cm deep and 25–35 cm in diameter (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); in Kenya, area defended by group c. 8 ha. Clutch 2–6 white eggs, size 22·5–24 mm × 17·7–18·3 mm, mass 4·1 g (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); helpers assist in incubating (and nest excavation, which can take up to six weeks) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), period 14–18 days, also in feeding young; typically one barbet remains as “guard”, e.g. against presumed nest parasites such as Lesser (Indicator minor) and Greater Honeyguides (I. indicator) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), while other adults forage, chicks fed 8–20 times an hour; nest kept clean; nestling period c. 39 days; most young that survive remain with group for a year or more, in turn probably acting as helpers in subsequent breeding attempts (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

White-eared Barbet (White-lined)

Not globally threatened. Population suspected to be declining owing to removal of dead trees, which are required for nesting and roosting, and habitat fragmentation within its comparatively small range estimated at 70,100 km². Known from several protected areas.

White-eared Barbet (White-eared)

Not globally threatened. Little information on status; apparently common at least in NE Tanzania, but local and uncommon in Kenya; said to occur in Taita Hills in SE Kenya, but no confirmed records and possibly absent there. Present in Mtunzini and Umlalazi Nature Reserve (South Africa). Disappearing in some highland parts of its range in N; habitat increasingly fragmented, with dead trees being cleared away. Largely confined to forested reserves and a few areas privately protected on tea estates in S Malawi (3 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ). To date, S. leucotis is one of relatively few monitored species that has not registered a decline in old-growth coastal dune forest (5 Trimble, M. J., and R. J. van Aarde (2011). Decline of birds in a human modified coastal dune forest landscape in South Africa. PLoS ONE 6(1):e16176. Close ). Species should be monitored, especially as its range is discontinuous.