Barbets - Bird of the Month September 2014*

[Valandrich]

This Black Collared barbet is seen regularly in our garden in Port Edward.

[Seiont]

Barbets (excluding Tinkerbirds)

Scientific Classification
Animalia – Chordata – Aves – Piciformes – Pici – Lybiidae

The Lybiidae is the bird family containing the African barbets. The subfamily Lybiinae contains the African arboreal barbets and the monotypic subfamily Trachyphoninae contains the African terrestrial barbets.

Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii

The specific name commemorates Francois Levaillant (6 August 1753 – 22 November 1824) who was a French author, explorer, naturalist, zoological collector and noted ornithologist. He was among the first to use colour plates for illustrating birds and opposed the use of binomial nomenclature introduced by Linnaeus, preferring instead to use descriptive French names such as the Bateleur for the distinctive African eagle.

Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus



The Latin specific name torquatus means "adorned with a neck chain or collar". The Black-Collared Barbet was first named in 1816 by Charles Henri Frédéric Dumont de Sainte-Croix (27 April 1758 – 8 January 1830) a French zoologist and enthusiastic ornithologist. The specific torquatus is shared with the Amazon lava lizard (Tropidurus torquatus), Black-collared Bulbul (Neolestes torquatus) and the Arctic Lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus) among others.

More to follow. Please post pictures and stories.

[PJL]

We sometimes get black collared barbets in our garden. The splash of red they provide is great

[okie]

This Crested barbet wanted to share our brekkie at Mooiplaas picnic spot on 10th September 2010

[Amoli]

These barbets were regular visitors in my previous garden...

[leachy]

[leachy]

crested barbet nestling

[nan]

Crested Barbet

13.10.2009

24.10.2009

8.11.2009

[Duke]

Both of these seen in Kruger

[Seiont]

Some lovely photographs. I decided on Barbets as they are such fun and colourful little birds. Living where I do all colour is appreciated. Summer is now over and we enter the mainly grey season that stretches all the way to next March. I excluded Tinkerbirds okie as I have no record of having knowingly seen a Tinkerbird. Trust that is OK.

Any other Barbet photographs, a Green Barbet maybe?

N.B I am back in work now after a 10 months career break and free time is much less. I'll add more info when I get the chance.