Bearded Barbet Bird Facts (Pogonornis dubius)

The Bearded Barbet is a striking bird with a distinctive red face, throat, and upper breast contrasting sharply with its black body. Its large, pale grey bill is fringed by stiff bristles, giving it a 'bearded' appearance. The wings feature yellow spots, while the vent area is white.

Both males and females share this vibrant coloration, making them indistinguishable in the field. Juveniles have a duller plumage, gradually acquiring adult colors as they mature.

The Bearded Barbet can be found in Woodland habitats.

The Bearded Barbet is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Bearded Barbet is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Bearded Barbet is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Bearded Barbet is not typically found in Urban habitats.

The Bearded Barbet is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Bearded Barbet is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Bearded Barbet is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Bearded Barbet is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Bearded Barbet is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Bearded Barbet is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Bearded Barbet can be found in Savanna habitats.

Bearded Barbets are found across a wide swath of West Africa, from Senegal east to western Cameroon. They inhabit savannas, open woodlands, and forest edges, preferring areas with scattered trees and access to fruiting plants.

These birds are non-migratory, maintaining their territories year-round. They adapt well to modified habitats, often seen in cultivated areas with fruit trees, parks, and gardens near human settlements.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Bearded Barbet. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

This feature is in beta. We'd love your feedback to improve it!

Share your thoughts

Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Bearded Barbet displays moderate agility, adeptly manoeuvring through woodlands and perching on treetops. Its ability to forage for fruits and insects across various tree levels suggests decent aerial prowess, though it's not known for exceptional acrobatics.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

With its powerful, chisel-like beak, the Bearded Barbet demonstrates considerable strength. This feature enables it to excavate nesting cavities in dead trees and tackle a variety of fruit sizes, indicating robust physical capabilities for its size.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

The Bearded Barbet shows high adaptability, thriving in diverse habitats from savannas to forest edges, and even in modified environments near human settlements. Its varied diet of fruits, insects, and occasionally small lizards further demonstrates its adaptable nature.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

While not typically aggressive, Bearded Barbets likely defend their territories and nesting sites with moderate vigour. Their social behaviour, often seen in small groups or pairs, suggests a generally peaceful disposition, but they may show some aggression during breeding seasons.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Bearded Barbet's endurance appears moderate. As non-migratory birds maintaining year-round territories, they demonstrate steady energy levels. Their ability to engage in extended bouts of calling and drumming on branches for communication suggests reasonable stamina, though they're not known for exceptional feats of endurance.

The Bearded Barbet's diet primarily consists of fruits, particularly figs. They also consume insects, especially during breeding season, and have been observed eating small lizards. Their strong bill allows them to tackle a variety of fruit sizes, making them important seed dispersers in their ecosystem.

Bearded Barbets are often seen perched conspicuously at the top of trees, scanning for fruit or insects. They are social birds, frequently found in small groups or pairs. Their strong bills are used for feeding and excavating nesting cavities in dead trees, showcasing their carpentry skills.

The Bearded Barbet's call is a distinctive, monotonous series of 'poo' or 'poop' sounds, repeated at regular intervals. This vocalization, often described as 'poo-poo-poo-poo', can continue for extended periods and is a characteristic sound of their woodland habitat.

Breeding season for Bearded Barbets typically coincides with the onset of the rainy season, varying across their range. Pairs form strong bonds and often remain together year-round.

Nests are excavated in dead trees or branches, with both partners contributing to the construction. The cavity is usually 20-30 cm deep, with a circular entrance about 5 cm in diameter.

Females lay 2-4 white eggs, which both parents incubate for about 13-15 days. Chicks fledge after approximately 27-30 days, and their parents continue to feed them for several weeks after they leave the nest.

The Bearded Barbet typically lives for 10 to 15 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While the Bearded Barbet is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, it faces localized threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and agricultural expansion. Conservation efforts focus on preserving its woodland habitats across West Africa.

Look for them perched prominently on treetops in open woodlands
Listen for their distinctive, repetitive 'poo-poo-poo' call
Observe fruiting trees, where they often feed in small groups
Check dead trees for nesting cavities, which they frequently excavate

Main predators include birds of prey such as hawks and eagles, as well as larger arboreal snakes that can access their nesting cavities.

Bearded Barbets use their strong bills to drum on branches, creating sounds for communication.
They play a crucial role in seed dispersal, contributing to forest regeneration.
Despite their name, their 'beard' is actually made of bristles around their beak, not true feathers.

Already have an account?

0/500 characters (minimum 20 required)

Visual Identification

Appearance

Size

Colours

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Distribution

Elevation Range

Climate zones

Distribution Map

Distribution by Region

Get Bird Updates in Your Inbox

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

Bird Attributes Explained

Attribute Categories:

Understanding the Ratings:

Agility

Strength

Adaptability

Aggressiveness

Endurance

Diet

Behaviour

Vocalisation

Nesting & Breeding

Lifespan

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Population Data

Rarity Index

Birdwatching Tips

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Family:

Predators

Did You Know?

Was this bird profile helpful?

Community Experience

Community Ratings

Latest Community Reviews

No reviews yet

Community Reviews

Create Your Free Account Welcome Back!

Rate Bearded Barbet

References