- Stactolaema olivacea
Identification
17–18 cm
A solidly built dull greenish-olive bird with yellow-green wings and typical stout barbet bill.
Distribution
A range-restricted east African endemic (Kenya to eastern South Africa) favouring moist evergreen woodland and forest.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 5 subspecies[1]:
- S. o. olivacea:
- S. o. howelli: Howell's Barbet
- Central Tanzania (Udzungwe and Mahenge mountains)
- S. o. woodwardi: Woodward's Barbet
- South-eastern Tanzania (Rondo Plateau) and KwaZulu-Natal (Ngoye Forest)
- S. o. rungweensis:
- Highlands of south-western Tanzania to northern Malawi
- S. o. belcheri:
- Southern Malawi (Mount Thyolo) and northern Mozambique (Mount Namuli)
Some authorities split Woodward's Barbet (Stactolaema woodwardi) from this species.
Habitat
This bird is arboreal tending to favour the (sub)canopy of tall trees.
Behaviour
Breeding
The nest hole is typically excavated high up in dead wood.
Diet
Their main diet consists of fruits and better, particularly figs.
Vocalisation
The call is a repetitive tyok.tyok.tyok and birds often duet.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2014)
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Green Barbet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Green_Barbet
