Capitonidae – New World Barbets

The Capitonidae or American barbets are a family of near passerine birds of the order Piciformes, which also includes Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets), Lybiidae (African Barbets), Ramphastidae (Toucans), Indicatoridae (Honeyguides) and Picidae (Woodpeckers). They are closely related to the toucans. They are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured and live in tropical forest, inhabiting the humid forests in Central and South America. They are mostly arboreal birds which nest in tree holes dug by breeding pairs, laying 2 to 4 eggs. They eat fruit and insects. These birds do not migrate.

While most American barbet species inhabit lowland forest, some range into montane and temperate forests as well. Most are restricted to habitats containing trees with dead wood, which are used for nesting.

Red-headed Barbet Eubucco bourcierii (Female) – ©Dubi Shapiro

Their diet is mixed, with fruit being the dominant part of the diet. Small prey items are also taken, especially when nesting, with insects being fed to chicks. Barbets are capable of shifting their diet quickly in the face of changes in food availability: Numerous species of fruiting tree and bush are visited; an individual barbet may feed on as many as 60 different species in its range. They will also visit plantations and take cultivated fruit and vegetables. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed pits regurgitated later (often before singing). Regurgitation does not usually happen in the nest (as happens with toucans). Like their relatives, American barbets are thought to be important agents in seed dispersal in tropical forests.

Scarlet-banded Barbet Capito wallacei – ©Dubi Shapiro

As well as taking fruit, they also take arthropod prey, gleaned from the branches and trunks of trees. A wide range of insects are taken, including ants, beetles and moths. Scorpions and centipedes are also taken, and a few species will take small vertebrates such as frogs. One species, Lemon-throated Barbet, has a diet dominated by arthropods and vertebrates along with some fruit.

Three species of New World barbets are listed as threatened by the IUCN: The white-mantled barbet of Colombia is listed as endangered and the five-coloured barbet as vulnerable, the two having a relatively small range threatened by deforestation for the timber industry and to create space for agriculture (including coca and marijuana) and livestock, and mining. The quite recently discovered scarlet-banded barbet of Peru is considered vulnerable due to its small population size (estimated at under 1000 birds), although its remote habitat is not immediately threatened.