The Vieillot’s Barbet, Lybius vieilloti, is a small African barbet with a world-wide tropical distribution.
Distribution / Range
The Vieillot’s Barbet is a resident breeder in the African scrubland on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert from Senegal to Ethiopia.
This species is typically seen in savannah and farmland.
Description
This is a sparrow-sized barbet at 15 cm. It is a plump bird, with a short neck, large head and short tail.
The adult has a red head, and the neck and breast are a mixture of red and white. The upperparts are dark brown apart from a yellow stripe down the back. The rest of the underparts are yellowish with dark flank spotting. The bill is thick and dark grey.
Males and females look alike, but immature birds are duller.
Calls / Vocalization
Its call is a repetitive duet whoo-oop whoo-oop whoo-oop .
Diet / Feeding
Its diet consists of insects and fruit, especially figs.
Breeding / Nesting
It nests in tree holes. The average clutch consists of three eggs.
