Across the globe there are over 80 species of ‘barbet’ who are said to inherit their name from the strong barb like hairs or bristles at the base of their bills. Here we see three of the 25 or so species found in Tanzania. First up we have the Usambiro Barbet (Trachyphonus usambiro), only deemed a separate species as late as 2021 prior to which it was classified as a sub-species of D’Arnaud’s barbet. Sometimes known as the ‘Masai Barbet’, which is synonymous with its range as this bird is found primarily in in Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania region and it is not unusual to see them feeding on the ground.
Tucked in the middle we see the colourful Red and Yellow Barbet (Trachyphonus erythrocephalus) whose range extends north up into Ethiopia, with occasional sightings west into Uganda, but again primarily it ranges between Kenya and Northern Tanzania. These birds can often be seen nesting or roosting in burrows rather than on the branches of trees.
Whilst at the bottom of this trio we see the Spot-flanked Barbet (Tricholaema lachrymosa). Not quite as big or colourful as the other two, but this bird does share the same primary range of Kenya and Tanzania, but can also be seen west into Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. But where it differs greatly from the others is the terrain in which it is found, this species prefers a damper, lusher environment rather than the dryer savannahs. (Full size images can be seen on the TZ Birds Gallery)
