Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus Scientific name definitions
Text last updated January 7, 2015
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Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Catalan | barbut becgroc oriental |
Czech | vousáček žlutozobý |
Dutch | Geelsnavelbaardvogel |
English | Yellow-billed Barbet |
English (United States) | Yellow-billed Barbet |
French | Barbican pourpré |
French (France) | Barbican pourpré |
German | Gelbschnabel-Bartvogel |
Japanese | キバシオナガゴシキドリ |
Norwegian | praktperleskjeggfugl |
Polish | żółtodziób |
Portuguese (Angola) | Barbaças-de-bico-amarelo |
Russian | Очковый щетиногруд |
Serbian | Žutokljuni barbet |
Slovak | perlavec žltozobý |
Spanish | Barbudo Piquigualdo |
Spanish (Spain) | Barbudo piquigualdo |
Swedish | gulnäbbad barbett |
Turkish | Sarı Maskeli Barbet |
Ukrainian | Барбудо жовтодзьобий |
Trachyphonus purpuratus Verreaux & Verreaux, 1851
Definitions
- TRACHYPHONUS
- purpurata / purpuratus
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Introduction
Taxonomic note: Lump. This account is a combination of multiple species accounts originally published in HBW Alive. That content has been combined and labeled here at the subspecies level. Moving forward we will create a more unified account for this parent taxon. Please consider contributing your expertise to update this account.
Field Identification
Yellow-billed Barbet (Western)
23–24 cm; 82–83 g (1). A striking black, red, yellow and white barbet, with pinkish-white stippled throat, deep yellow bill, black orbital skin, deep red to orange-red or red-brown (1) eye, lower back to uppertail-coverts broadly tipped whitish yellow, and white scapular mark. Sexes alike (1). Compared to previously conspecific (see Taxonomy comments) T. togoensis, which occurs immediately E of present species, and <em>T. purpuratus</em> , whose range does not abut that of T. goffinii, the present species most closely resembles togoensis, but has less red on head, black orbital skin (versus yellow in <em>purpuratus</em> and olive-green in togoensis) (1), more spots of pink (less streaky) on throat, more yellow in rump, and somewhat clearer pale yellow below (without dark markings on flanks and belly of purpuratus).
Yellow-billed Barbet (Togo)
23–24 cm. A striking black, red, yellow and white barbet, with dark silvery-pink throat, yellow bill, dull olive-green orbital skin, deep red to orange-red or red-brown (1) eye, lower back to uppertail-coverts broadly tipped whitish yellow, and white scapular mark. Sexes alike (1). Compared to previously conspecific (see Taxonomy comments) <em>T. goffinii</em> , which occurs to W of present species, and <em>T. purpuratus</em> , which ranges to E, the present species differs principally in darker facial skin (versus yellow in purpuratus), much more red on face, cheeks and forecrown than either of the other two species (especially the first-named), no dark markings on yellow of belly and flanks (compared to purpuratus), and different pattern on breast (more streaked than spotted).
Yellow-billed Barbet (Eastern)
23–24 cm; 66–109 g (1) (mainly 75–95 g). Nominate race black, red, yellow and white, with silvery-pink throat, yellow bill and facial skin , deep red to orange-red or red-brown (1) eye, and white scapular mark seen when it moves; red spattered about head; tail quite long; usually spotted yellow below. Sexes alike (1). Differs from similar Pogonornis bidentatus in white scapular mark, darker (less bright red) throat to breast with pink spotting, lack of red bar in wings, and yellow about belly. Immature paler, black lacks gloss, reds duller and has less on head (1), no silver on throat, which is mainly black with red tips to feathers, more yellow below and has brown eyes (1). Race <em>elgonensis</em> very like nominate, but more red , less silvery, on sides of throat .
Systematics History
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.
Yellow-billed Barbet (Western)
Hitherto considered conspecific with T. togoensis and T. purpuratus. Differs from former in its purple vs red supercilium and cheeks, not extending onto neck side (2), pinkish-white stippling vs bright pinkish-white (black-centred) streaking on breast (3), no red along bottom edge of dark breast-line (2), and blackish-blue vs blackish-green gloss on hindcrown to mantle (ns[1]); differs from latter in its grey vs yellow around eye (3), brighter red on forecrown (ns[1]), all-yellow vs yellow-spotted black belly and flanks (3), pinkish-white stippling vs long pinky-silvery streaking on breast (2), and no red along bottom edge of dark breast-line (ns[2]). Monotypic.Yellow-billed Barbet (Togo)
Hitherto considered conspecific with T. goffinii and T. purpuratus, but differs from former in characters indicated under that species, and from latter in its grey vs yellow around eye (3); much brighter red on forecrown, extending onto supercilium and ear-coverts (3); all-yellow vs yellow-spotted black belly and flanks (3); bright pinkish-white (black-centred) streaking vs long pinky-silvery streaking on breast (ns[2]); blackish-green vs blackish-blue gloss on hindcrown to mantle (ns[1]). Monotypic.Yellow-billed Barbet (Eastern)
Hitherto considered conspecific with T. goffinii and T. togoensis, but differs from both in characters indicated under those species. Two subspecies recognized.Subspecies
Yellow-billed Barbet (Western) Trachyphonus purpuratus goffinii Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Trachyphonus purpuratus goffinii (Goffin, 1863)
Definitions
- TRACHYPHONUS
- purpurata / purpuratus
- goffini / goffiniana / goffinii
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Yellow-billed Barbet (Togo) Trachyphonus purpuratus togoensis Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Trachyphonus purpuratus togoensis (Reichenow, 1891)
Definitions
- TRACHYPHONUS
- purpurata / purpuratus
- togoensis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Yellow-billed Barbet (Eastern) Trachyphonus purpuratus purpuratus/elgonensis
Distribution
Trachyphonus purpuratus purpuratus Verreaux & Verreaux, 1851
Definitions
- TRACHYPHONUS
- purpurata / purpuratus
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Distribution
Trachyphonus purpuratus elgonensis Sharpe, 1891
Definitions
- TRACHYPHONUS
- purpurata / purpuratus
- elgonense / elgonensis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Distribution
Yellow-billed Barbet (Western)
Sierra Leone E to Ghana–Togo border.
Yellow-billed Barbet (Togo)
Extreme E Ghana to SW Nigeria.
Habitat
Yellow-billed Barbet (Western)
Lowland and lower montane forest in understorey, especially in treefall gaps and ecotone between tall forest and natural swamp forest, but can persist in cultivated areas provided some tall trees are retained, perhaps even surviving in farmbush in some areas. Sea-level to 1300 m in Liberia.
Yellow-billed Barbet (Togo)
No known differences from T. purpuratus and T. goffinii.Yellow-billed Barbet (Eastern)
Lowland and lower montane forest in understorey, also riverside thickets and forest, forested swamps, old secondary forest, dense forest patches, and adjacent gardens and cultivated areas. Sea-level to to 2800 m in E (Mt Elgon, Kenya), though even in this part of Africa found mainly below 2200 m (2, 3), and further W usually at much lower elevations.
Migration Overview
Yellow-billed Barbet (Western)
Resident, and sedentary.Yellow-billed Barbet (Togo)
Resident, and sedentary.Yellow-billed Barbet (Eastern)
Resident, and sedentary.Diet and Foraging
Yellow-billed Barbet (Western)
Diet includes arthropods and gastropods; and fruits such as Canthium sp. and Morinda lucida, and in Sierra Leone especially Sterculia. Foraging behaviour and techniques not known to differ from those of T. purpuratus. Occasionally joins mixed-species feeding flocks.
Yellow-billed Barbet (Togo)
Nothing known of the species’ diet, but presumably not dissimilar to that of T. purpuratus and T. goffinii. Foraging behaviour and techniques not known to differ from those of T. purpuratus.
Yellow-billed Barbet (Eastern)
Arthropods, including ants and termites, larvae of various insects; also snails; and fruits of avocados, figs, and diverse species of e.g. Beilschmiedia, Heisteria, Macaranga, Musanga, Polyalthia and Pycnanthus. Skulking forest-understorey bird, feeds mainly below 10 m, often below 5 m, to the ground, but occasionally in canopy; hops and bounds on ground, and up and along branches, gleaning, picking fruits; flycatches occasionally; often perches quietly.
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
Yellow-billed Barbet (Western)
Song very like that of T. purpuratus (which see, and T. togoensis), but rate of delivery of “hoop” notes is slower, although their notes are structurally similar.
Yellow-billed Barbet (Togo)
Song said to be identical to that of T. purpuratus.
Yellow-billed Barbet (Eastern)
Large repertoire; song (given year-round) (1) low “hoop” notes at 1–2 per second, in series as long as five minutes; duetting infrequent, and female probably utters “wa-hoop” to “wup-oop” in duet; also soft “oop” and chattery “chaa-aa” notes by pair, and in aggressive encounters; soft, irregular “oonk” notes by both of pair in greeting ceremony; soft “ooo-ooo” notes in or at nest; “eh-eh-” calls; “toc-toc” as alarm; young chatter noisily, or give rattle-like notes, and loud “yeh-eh—” when fed. Loud wing-fluttering at c. 15 beats per second in interactions.
Breeding
Yellow-billed Barbet (Western)
Season Oct–Mar in Ghana and Liberia, with singing reaching maximum in E Liberia in Sept–Nov (1). Nothing else known, but most aspects of ecology are presumably similar to T. purpuratus.
Yellow-billed Barbet (Togo)
Season Jan–Jul in Togo (1). Nothing else known, but most aspects of ecology are presumably similar to T. purpuratus.
Yellow-billed Barbet (Eastern)
Season Jan–Jul in Nigeria (1); Aug–Jan in Cameroon, C DR Congo and Angola; probably all year in Uganda and Kenya. Nests mainly or entirely in pairs; very pugnacious, especially to other barbets (e.g. Tricholaema lacrymosa) and bulbuls (1), able to nest successfully within large colony of Gymnobucco bonapartei. Duets and displays, including tail-cocking by presumed male, much bowing, erection of throat and facial feathers, wing-spreading, bill-tapping. Both adults excavate unlined cavity (up to 58 cm deep and 15 cm in diameter) (1) in stub or dead branch, up to 30 m above ground but usually below 8 m, with entrance c. 5·5 cm in diameter (1); rarely uses old woodpecker cavity; nesting trees include Ficus and Polyscias fulva, sometimes isolated outside forest (1). Clutch 2–4 white eggs, size 28·5–29·5 mm × 18–20·5 mm (1); incubation and nestling periods unknown; chicks fed 4–14 times per hour, parents keep nest clean by removing faecal material; at least one young may remain with parents up to next breeding period.
Conservation Status
Yellow-billed Barbet (Western)
Not globally threatened. Population size unquantified, but inhabits large range estimated at 454,000 km². Densities of up to five pairs/km² in Liberia. Not uncommon in Sierra Leone. Requires forest with dense undergrowth; after forest clearance, often disappears when forest remnants too small or too far apart, although seems able to accept some degree of selective logging (4) and it has even been suggested that the species isfavoured by small-scale clearance (5). Occurs in several protected areas, e.g. Gola Forests Reserves (Sierra Leone), Banco National Park (Ivory Coast), and Tain Tributaries, Opro River and Afram Headwaters Forest Reserves (Ghana).
Yellow-billed Barbet (Togo)
Not globally threatened. Population size unquantified, but inhabits large range estimated at 254,000 km². Requires forest with dense undergrowth; after forest clearance, often disappears when forest remnants too small or too far apart, although seems able to accept some degree of selective logging (4). Occurs in several protected areas, e.g. Kalakpa Wildlife Reserve, Kabo River Forest Reserve and Kyabobo National Park (Ghana).
Yellow-billed Barbet (Eastern)
Not globally threatened. Densities of 8–13 pairs/km² in Gabon, where nests may be as close as 200 m. Requires forest with dense undergrowth; after forest clearance, often disappears when forest remnants too small or too far apart, although seems able to accept some degree of selective logging (4). Occurs in many protected areas, e.g. Korup and Mbam and Djerem National Parks (Cameroon), Budongo Forest Reserve, Impenetrable Forest , Kibale (4), Rwenzori Mountains and Semliki National Parks (Uganda), Mount Elgon National Park and Kakamega Nature Reserve (Kenya), and Kibira National Park (Burundi).