White-headed barbet
The white-headed barbet (Lybius leucocephalus) is a species of bird in the family Lybiidae. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
White-headed barbet | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Piciformes |
Family: | Lybiidae |
Genus: | Lybius |
Species: | L. leucocephalus |
Binomial name | |
Lybius leucocephalus (De Filippi, 1853) | |
Bird calls
This species of African barbet comprises several races distinguished by different duetting song patters but all have a raucous greeting ceremony. It is the only barbet species to use simultaneous singing during a duet.[2]
Description
This species is one of the largest in this genus at 18–19.5 cm (7.1-7.7 inches) in length. It is a black and white type of barbet that has a stubby neck and a heavy-toothed bill. It is found in open woodland areas that are close to water and cultivation. It utilizes fig and jacaranda trees to find food and to excavate nests. These birds are also very social and live in small groups.[3]
Subspecies
Lybius leucocephalus includes the following subspecies:[4]
- L. l. adamauae - Reichenow, 1921
- L. l. leucocephalus - (de Filippi, 1853)
- L. l. senex - (Reichenow, 1887)
- L. l. albicauda - (Shelley, 1881)
- L. l. lynesi - Grant, CHB & Mackworth-Praed, 1938
- L. l. leucogaster - (Barboza du Bocage, 1877)
References
- BirdLife International (2016). "Lybius leucocephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22726068A94910450. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22726068A94910450.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- Short, Lester L., and Jennifer F. Horne. "A Review of Duetting, Sociality and Speciation In Some African Barbets (Capitonidae)." Condor 85.3 (1983): 323-32. Web.
- "White-headed Barbet." , Lybius Leucocephalus. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
- Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.