Red-and-yellow Barbet

Trachyphonus erythrocephalus

Other Names

    Barbican à tête rouge   Flammenkopf-Bartvogel    Barbudo Cabecirrojo   Rödgul skäggök, Markskäggök     Barbetto giallorosso

World: Africa in SE Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and NE Tanzania.

Kenya: Throughout Kenya up to 1500m. Mostly absent from the moist areas of wetern Kenya.

Locally common in dry bush, woodland and scrub. Often seen around termite mounds in which it digs nests. At about 8 or 9 inches long it is larger than the similar D'Arnaud's Barbet which also lacks the red in the face. The female, pictured above, differs from the male in having a red crown with black spots instead of the male's all black, slightly crested, crown.

For more information on the Red-and-yellow Barbet, inluding a recording of its call, try the Honolulu Zoo page.