Red-fronted Barbet

Tricholaema diademata

Other Names

    Barbican à diadème   Diadembartvogel   Barbudo Diademado       Barbuto Fronte Rossa

World: Africa - from S Sudan and Ethiopia through N Uganda and Kenya as far S as E Tanzania.

Kenya: Open bush and woodland between 600-2100m.

This is an uncommon Barbet of dry woodland. It favours wetter areas than the related Black-throated Barbet but drier conditions than the Spot-flanked Barbet. As with most African arboreal barbets its diet is principally fructiverous but is supplemented by vine tendrils and thistle seeds. It will also eat insects such as ants or termites which it comes to ground to take. It will also break into termite tunnels on tree trunks and branches to get at the insects. It is found singly or in pairs and has somewhat sluggish foraging method.

There are 2 races of Red-fronted Barbet present in Kenya, T. d. diademata (pictured above) and T. d. massaica. The main distinguishing feature is the amount of spotting and streaking present on the body. T. d. diademata has a few large blackish spots on its flanks, it is found mainly in the N of the country. T. d. massaica has a larger number of small spots and streaks on its underside. Both races can be distinguished from the Red-fronted Tinkerbird by their much larger size, thicker bill, broad yellow supercilliary stripe and lack of any black moustachial stripe.