His Bright Red Head And Fiery Orange Throat Make Him Stand Out From The Rest – Meet The Red-headed Barbet!

Unmistakable, with its vibrant colors of green, orange, and yellow, the red-headed barbet catches the eye. However, it is the striking red head that truly sets it apart from its counterparts.

Belonging to the Capitonidae family, specifically the New World barbets, the red-headed barbet (Eubucco bourcierii) is a bird species that displays a remarkable appearance. The males possess a captivating red head, complemented by an orange to yellow breast and a pristine white belly. A white collar elegantly separates the head from the olive green back. In terms of weight, these birds range from 1.1 to 1.4 ounces.

On the other hand, the females exhibit slight variations in coloration. Their crown and nape can range from dull orange to shades of green. Their back is predominantly green, while their throat displays a captivating grey-yellow hue, adorned with a yellow-to-orange band below it.

Red-headed Barbets can be found in various regions of South America, including Costa Rica and Panama, both slopes of the western Andes of Colombia, the west slope of the Andes of Ecuador, and the eastern slope of the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru.

These captivating birds are predominantly found in mountain evergreen forests, forest borders, and adjacent secondary growth. They tend to inhabit altitudes ranging from 400 to 2,400 meters.

Feeding on a diverse diet, red-headed barbets primarily consume insects and arthropods such as beetles, caterpillars, earwigs, flies, and scorpions. However, they also indulge in various fruits and berries.

Breeding season for these birds occurs between March and June. The nest is typically situated within a tree cavity or a fence post, where the female lays an average of 2 to 5 white, unmarked eggs. Incubation lasts for approximately 15 days and is carried out by both parents, with the female taking over the night shift. The chicks are nourished with insects by their attentive parents and eventually fledge 31 to 42 days after hatching.

The red-headed barbet is a true marvel of nature, with its vibrant colors, unique features, and intriguing behaviors. Its striking appearance and ecological significance make it a remarkable species to behold in the avian world.