Acacia pied barbet

Acacia pied barbet
T. leucomelas at Etosha N. P., Namibia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Piciformes
Family:Lybiidae
Genus:Tricholaema
Species: T. leucomelas
Binomial name
Tricholaema leucomelas
(Boddaert, 1783)
Synonyms
  • Tricholaema affine

The acacia pied barbet or pied barbet (Tricholaema leucomelas) is a species of bird in the family Lybiidae.

Description

It has a black-and-white striped head with a red forehead and yellow colouring above the eyes. It has a black bib under the chin, with a white breast and underparts.

Distribution and habitat

It primarily inhabits semi-arid savanna, as well as grassland, fynbos, agricultural areas and urban gardens, where it did not inhabit previously. With the introduction of alien vegetation, especially Acacia species from Australia, to regions bordering its original range, this species has been able to expand its range to these otherwise unreachable areas.[2]

It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Ecology

In northern Namibia

Like most other barbets, the acacia pied barbet drills holes into dead wood to create cavity nests, like a woodpecker. It lays two to four eggs from August to April, and both sexes incubate the eggs.

The acacia pied barbet has been observed taking fruit from various trees and shrubs, such as Ficus, Rhus and Phoenix reclinata, as well as Aloe nectar and insects.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Tricholaema leucomelas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
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