White-mantled Barbet Capito hypoleucus Scientific name definitions

Like most Neotropical barbets, the White-mantled Barbet, a Colombian endemic, is a striking-looking bird, marked by a scarlet forehead, black-and-white hindcrown and mantle, blue-black head sides and upperparts, a white throat and upper breast, with a diffuse buffy breast-band, and yellowish-white underparts. Despite being locally common, overall the species is postulated to be declining, as a consequence of ongoing forest destruction within this barbet’s relatively restricted range, in the northern Central Andes and on the western slope of the East Andes. It favors primary forest above 1000 m, although in places it seems tolerant of some degree of habitat disturbance. As a result, the White-mantled Barbet is currently listed as globally Endangered according to IUCN criteria. It regularly joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

18–19 cm. Strong-billed  , rathyer chunky, black, white, brown, red and yellow barbet with yellow-horn bill. Male nominate race with red forehead and crown, black side of head; black upperparts with white nape and inverted white “V” on back; white throat and malar region, pale brown breastband, rest of underparts clear yellow-white; bill pale yellow-horn. Differs from all other Capito in bill colour. Female has black spot on front of white malar. Immature lacks brown breastband. Racial differences slight: <em>carrikeri</em> with more yellow in white of back and underparts than nominate; extinctus has somewhat browner breastband than others.

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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.

Occupies fragmented lower montane moist forest, forest patches, secondary forest, cacao and coffee plantations with fruiting trees, and forest edges; occurs at 700–1600 m, unusually lower, down to 200 m.

Resident; leaves territory to feed on fruits, but probably moves only locally.

Berries  , fruits, and insects; fruits identified are of Cupania and Cecropia, and mangoes; stomachs contained “seeds” of fruits, and unidentified insects and fruits. Forages in pairs or families, but several may gather at fruiting trees up to 1 km from cover; usually in canopy. Tears apart dead-leaf clusters for insects, forages among mistletoe clumps. At times joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

Song of 15–30 “hoop” notes that rise slightly in tempo, 3–5 seconds long; call a grating “drrrurtt”, resembling that of C. squamatus; chattering “kek-ek” and “tteeaw” notes when several feeding in same tree. Probably also bill-wiping as display.

Probably Apr–Sept; seen attending nest in late Apr, and late breeding-period moult starts May. Singer “hoops” in horizontal position, bill downwards, flicks tail up and down with notes; pair-members sing as close together as 6 cm, sing simultaneously, 2 pairs sometimes countersing even in isolated fruiting tree unlikely to be within territory. Nests  , eggs and other breeding details undescribed.

VULNERABLE. Formerly listed as Endangered. Restricted-range species: present in Nechí Lowlands EBA. Apparently rare, but locally common; little known. Nominate race possibly extinct; carrikeri apparently not observed in wild since 1950. Paradoxically, extinctus, thought to be extinct when first described in 1986, is only race known certainly to survive: was relocated in May 1990, and several observations made since then, at a number of sites, suggest that this race is common, if local; indeed, the Serranía de las Quinchas seems to hold a healthy population, which merits further study. Within species’ very small range, clearance of forest continuing, with further fragmenting of habitat and many remaining patches on steep slopes; range evidently contracting. It does, however, seem somewhat adaptable, and is by no means restricted to forest. Conservation efforts crippled by lack of knowledge of this species’ breeding behaviour, roosting habits, and other ecological aspects. Recommended that protection be sought of patches of habitat as large as possible, perhaps 100 ha, with habitat corridor system connecting these, and also safeguarding of smaller patches.