Black-throated Barbet

Tricholaema melanocephala

Other Pics: Side view showing wing markings

Other Names

    Barbican à tête noire   Schwarzkopf-Bartvogel   Barbudo Cabecinegro       Barbetto golanera

World: Africa in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania.

Kenya: Fairly common through northern and eastern Kenya, except along the coast and through to Tsavo in the South

A common bird below 1500m, you can usually find them in any of the dry area reserves such as Tsavo, Baringo or Tsavo although they can be difficult to pick out lurking in trees or shrubbery. They're fairly distinctive unless only the head is visible when it's easy to confuse them with the Spot-flanked Barbet. In the open the lack of spots is something of a give-away.

Like the other African arboreal barbets it eats fruit, being particularly fond of figs but insects form an important part of its diet and it takes this prey by gleaning from the surface of leaves or bark It also fly catches and will even hover to take insects.