Hairy-breasted barbet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hairy-breasted barbet |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tricholaema
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| Species: |
hirsuta
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| Subspecies | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Pogonias hirsutus |
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The hairy-breasted barbet (Tricholaema hirsuta) is a colorful bird found in the rainforests of Africa. It is part of the Lybiidae family, which includes other barbets. These birds are known for their bright feathers and often live high in the trees.
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Where They Live and What They Like
The hairy-breasted barbet lives in many countries across central and western Africa. You can find them in places like Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda. Their home is mainly in lowland primary forests, which are old, untouched forests. They also live in older secondary forests, which are forests that have regrown after being disturbed.
These birds can be found at different heights, up to about 1,800 meters (about 5,900 feet) above sea level. Their total living area is huge, covering about 6.8 million square kilometers (about 2.6 million square miles).
What They Look Like
The hairy-breasted barbet is a medium-sized bird, about 17 to 18 centimeters (6.7 to 7.1 inches) long. It weighs between 43 and 63 grams (1.5 to 2.2 ounces).
Males have a striking blue-black head with a white stripe above their eye. They also have a white stripe on their cheek. Their upper body is black with yellow spots on the back. Their rump has yellow bars. The tail is a dark brown-black color.
Their throat is black. The chest and sides are yellow with black markings. Their wings are brown-black, and some feathers have yellow edges. The beak is black, and their legs are grey. Their eyes are usually red or reddish-brown.
Female hairy-breasted barbets look similar to males. However, their markings on the back and underparts are more golden yellow. Young birds have softer feathers. The spots on their upper body are lighter and not as many. The black markings on their underside look more like bars.
Different Types of Hairy-breasted Barbets
There are a few slightly different types, called subspecies, of the hairy-breasted barbet. For example, one type called T. h. flavipunctata does not have stripes on its head. Instead, it has white spots on its face and yellow spots on its head. Its back is browner, and its underside is a dull brownish-yellow.
Another type, T. h. angolensis, is even browner than flavipunctata. It has fine whitish spots on its face. Its underside is brownish, and its throat is brownish-white with brown bars. The T. h. ansorgii type has narrow lines on its face. Its throat is white with black streaks. Its upper body is browner, and its underside is not as bright.
How They Behave
Hairy-breasted barbets usually search for food alone or in pairs. Their diet includes fruits like drupes and berries. They also eat insects, such as beetles and caterpillars. They have been seen hitting insects against branches to remove their wings and legs before eating them.
Sometimes, these barbets will join groups of different bird species that are foraging together. This is called a mixed-species foraging flock.
Each pair of barbets protects its own area, called a territory. Both the male and female sing to defend their space. Their song is a repeated "oork" or "oop" sound. When a bird sings, it spreads out some feathers, puffs up its throat, and moves its head from side to side.
When flying, they sometimes swoop downwards. They also glide without flapping their wings.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Not much is known about how hairy-breasted barbets raise their young. They have been found in holes in trees. However, scientists are not sure if they actually nest in these holes. Breeding activity, like females with large ovaries or young birds, has been seen at different times of the year in different places. This suggests they might breed throughout the year depending on the region.
Their Status in the Wild
The exact number of hairy-breasted barbets in the world is not known. However, their population seems to be stable. This means their numbers are probably not going down. They do not appear to face major threats.
Because they have a very large habitat and their population seems steady, the IUCN Red List has listed the hairy-breasted barbet as a species of "least concern." This means they are not currently at risk of becoming extinct.
