Usambiro barbet
| Usambiro barbet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| T. usambiro in Tanzania | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Family: | Lybiidae |
| Genus: | Trachyphonus |
| Species: | T. usambiro |
| Binomial name | |
| Trachyphonus usambiro Neumann, 1908 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Trachyphonus darnaudii usambiro | |
The Usambiro barbet (Trachyphonus usambiro) is a species of bird in the African barbet family Lybiidae. It was formerly considered a subspecies of D'Arnaud's barbet, along with Emin's barbet, but was split as a distinct species by the IOC in 2021.[2] It varies from the nominate in having longer wings, a shorter tail, and darker bill. The Usambiro barbet was originally described as a subspecies of D'Arnaud's barbet in 1908 by Oscar Rudolph Neumann from a specimen collected in Usambiro in Tanzania. It is now treated as a valid species in its own right.[2][3]
It is found in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, and in Maasai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park as free-ranging wildlife. The species inhabits open areas including savannah, grassland, shrubland and pastures. It ranges from 1,100 to 2,100 m (3,600 to 6,900 ft) above sea-level. Where the species' range overlaps with the Red-and-yellow barbet, this species will avoid the streambeds favoured by the larger red-and-yellow barbet and occupies flat areas.[3]
The Usambiro barbet is 18–19 cm (7.1–7.5 in) long and weighs 37–50.5 g (1.31–1.78 oz). The head is yellow with black spots and the wings are black with white spots. The breast is also yellow with a dark breast band. The belly is pale yellow with a reddish vent. The sexes are similar.[3]
The diet of this species is assumed to be the same as the D'Arnaud's barbet, comprising seeds, fruit and a wide range of insects.[3]
References
[edit]- ↑ BirdLife International (2024). "Trachyphonus usambiro". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T22681900A263596855. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22681900A263596855.en. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Species Updates – IOC World Bird List". Archived from the original on 2026-04-12. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
- 1 2 3 4 del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. & Kirwan, G.M. (2017). Usambiro Barbet (Trachyphonus usambiro). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/467444 on 10 March 2017.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Trachyphonus darnaudii at Wikimedia Commons
