- Gymnobucco calvus
Identification
18 cm.
- Unfeathered blackish to blue-grey crown and face
- Dull brown to buff bristly tufts on chin and at lateral base of lower mandible
- Short hair-like feathers on forehead and lores
- Dark brown upperparts with thin pale streaks
- Brown to grey-brown underparts with fine pale streaks
- Yellow to pale brownish bill
- congicus slightly larger, with broader streaks, greyish-white throat and small, more yellowish-buff tufts also at nostrils
- vernayi like congicus but darker above and lacks tuft on chin
Sexes similar. Immatures are paler.
Similar species
Differs from Grey-throated Barbet in naked face and pale bill, from Sladen's Barbet in pale bill, paler bristle tufts and less dark plumage. Most similar to Bristle-nosed Barbet but differs in larger bill, deeper brown rump and darker and less conspicuous nasal tufts.
Distribution
Western and Central Africa: from Sierra Leone east to DR Congo and Angola.
Generally common in its range.
Taxonomy
Three subspecies recognized:
- G. c. calvus in the lowlands of Sierra Leone east to Cameroon and Gabon
- G. c. congicus in western Republic of the Congo and western DR Congo to northwest Angola
- G. c. vernayi in the uplands of west-central Angola
The described subspecies major is usually not recognized.
Closely related to Sladen's Barbet and Bristle-nosed Barbet.
Habitat
Found in primary forest and adjacent secondary forest. Also in nearby plantations, farms and villages with fruiting trees.
Occurs up to 1820 m.
Behaviour
A very social species, almost always seen in groups. Quarrelsome and aggressive around food source.
Diet
Feeds on fruits. Takes also arthropods and insects.
Forages like a tit in foliage and along branches.
Breeding
Breeding season differs through range. A colonial breeder, often together with other barbets. Breeds in colonies of up to 250 pairs. The nest is placed in a cavity excavated in a dead tree. Lays 2-5 eggs.
Movements
A resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2014)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Naked-faced Barbet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Naked-faced_Barbet
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
