The African barbets (family Lybiidae) are a family of birds belonging to the order Picidae distributed across the Afrotropical realm. They are often colorful birds featuring large heads and heavy, strong bills fringed with bristles on the base. They mostly feed on fruits and insects, playing a role at seed dispersal in forests. They excavate holes in riverbanks or termite nests to make their nests.
The family comprises 43 species in 10 genera, traditionally classified in two subfamilies. Subfamily Trachyphoninae includes large birds distributed in rainforests, as those in genera Trachylaemus (2 species), and open woodland and savanna, as genus Trachyphonus (4 species).
Subfamily Lybiinae includes generally middle-sized barbets of tropical rainforest, riverine woodlands and other forests. This group includes genera Cryptolybia (1 species), Buccanodon (1 species), genus Stactolaema (3 species), genus Gymnobucco (4 species), genus Pogoniulus (10 species) — which are generally smaller and known as tinkerbirds —, genus Tricholaema (6 species), and larger-sized genera Pogonornis (5 species) and Lybius (7 species).
‘D’Arnaud’s‘ darnaudii form in Mpala River Camp, Laikipia, Kenya, 31 Jan 2024
D’Arnaud’s barbet
Trachyphonus darnaudii
Restricted to savanna of eastern Africa, from Ethiopia to Tanzania, with the ‘black-capped‘ emini form found at the south end of its range. It is usually found near or on termite mounds, on which it largely feeds alone or in pairs. I have seen this species in the central plains of Kenya.
Arabuko Sokoke National Park, Kenya, 9 Feb 2024
Green barbet
Cryptolybia olivacea
Found along patchy distribution range covering East African coastal forests and montane rainforests. Dull, greenish in plumage, with a head pattern that changes geographically. It dwells up in the canopy and favors fruiting trees. I have observed this species in Arabuko Sokoke in Kenya.
Arabuko Sokoke National Park, Kenya, 9 Feb 2024
Green tinkerbird
Pogoniulus simplex
Uncommon inhabitant of dense moist forests in eastern Africa, mostly along coastal forest patches. Small and plain, showing greenish plumage. It seems to be often best detected by its characteristic voice. I have seen this species in Arabuko Sokoke in Kenya.
Kileleoni Mara Gateway House in Mara North, Kenya, 3 Feb 2024
Spot-flanked barbet
Tricholaema lacrymosa
Found in moist woodlands, gallery forests and gardens of eastern Africa from Uganda and western Kenya south to central Tanzania. It occurs in lusher, more humid habitats than other members of its genus. I have encountered this species in Kenya.
