D'Arnaud's Barbet
Trachyphonus darnaudii
| Scientific name | Trachyphonus darnaudii |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Lybiidae |
| Size | Length about 18-20 cm; weight about 30-52 g |
How to identify
Yellowish barbet densely spotted with black, with a dark speckled crown and pale bill; cocks its tail and bobs while singing.
Habitat
Dry thornbush, scrub, and open savanna with sandy or stony ground for its burrow nests
Diet
Insects, seeds, and fruit taken mostly from the ground and low vegetation
When it is active
Diurnal; forages on the ground and often sings a bouncing, mechanical duet from a low perch
Where it lives
Eastern Africa from Ethiopia and Somalia south through Kenya to central Tanzania
How to spot it
Listen for the rhythmic duet in dry thornbush, then look low near burrows and open ground in Samburu and Tarangire
Photography tips
Get low to ground level for eye contact; a soft, uncluttered earth background lets the fine black spotting stand out
Threats
No significant threats; common and adaptable in arid bush across its range
Similar species
Red-and-yellow Barbet is larger and brighter with a red head; D'Arnaud's has a spotted yellow-and-black head.
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