Lybiidae – African Barbets

The Lybiidae or African barbets are a family of near passerine birds confined to Africa. They were usually united with their American and Asian relatives in the Capitonidae for quite some time. The species range from the type genus Lybius of forest interior to the Pogoniulus (tinkerbirds) of forest and scrubland. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of the far south-west of South Africa.

They form part of the order Piciformes, along with Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets), Capitonidae (New World Barbets), Ramphastidae (Toucans), Indicatoridae (Honeyguides) and Picidae (Woodpeckers). The African terrestrial barbets, Trachyphoninae, range from the southern Sahara to South Africa. Members of one genus, Trachyphonus, they are the most open-country species of barbets. The subfamily Lybiinae contains the African arboreal barbets.

Black-backed Barbet Pogonornis minor – ©Dubi Shapiro

From the tiniest tinkerbird with a dainty bill to the largest Pogonornis barbet with a hefty toothed bill, this is the most morphologically diverse barbet family. Lybiids are also the most variable of the barbets in rictal bristle development and extent of facial feathering; some species have completely naked heads and in others the bills are almost totally obscured by a profusion of long, adpressed bristles. Lybiids include the only barbets to spend a great deal of time on the ground, and some that burrow into earthen banks to nest rather than using the tree cavities preferred by all other barbets.

White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis – ©Dubi Shapiro

Most African barbets are about 20cm to 25cm long, plump-looking, with large heads, and their heavy bill is fringed with bristles; the tinkerbirds are smaller, ranging down to the Red-rumped Tinkerbird at 7g and 9cm. They are mainly solitary birds, eating insects and fruit. Figs and numerous other species of fruiting tree and bush are visited, and 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).

Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii – ©Dubi Shapiro

Regurgitation does not usually happen in the nest (as happens with toucans), although tinkerbirds do place sticky mistletoe seeds around the entrances of their nests, possibly to deter predators. As the other barbets, they are thought to be important agents in seed dispersal in tropical forests.

Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus – ©Dubi Shapiro

As well as taking fruit, African barbets also take arthropod prey, gleaned from the branches and trunks of trees. A wide range of insects are taken, including ants, cicadas, dragonflies, crickets, locusts, beetles, moths and mantids. Scorpions and centipedes are also taken, and a few species will take small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs and geckos.

Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus uropygialis – ©Dubi Shapiro

The precise nesting details of many African barbets are not well known, although peculiarly among the Piciformes, some sociable species will nest in riverbanks or termite nests. Like many members of their order, Piciformes, their nests are in holes bored into a tree, and they usually lay between two and four eggs (except for the Yellow-breasted Barbet which lays up to six), incubated for thirteen to fifteen days. Nesting duties are shared by both parents.

Western Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus coryphaea – ©Dubi Shapiro

It is believed that African Barbets, or their close ancestors were found in pre-historic Europe. Supposed fossil remains of Late Miocene Pogoniulus were found at Kohfidisch (Austria), but have not yet been thoroughly studied. It is not clear whether they belong to the extant genus, but given the late date this may well be so.