The family Lybiidae is comprised of the African barbets. They are found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa. They are usually about 20–25 cm long, plump-looking, with large heads, and their heavy bill is fringed with bristles. They are mainly solitary birds, eating fruit, insects, and small vertebrates. They will also visit plantations and take cultivated fruit and vegetables. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed pits regurgitated later. African barbets are quite similar to the American barbets which also belong to Piciformes. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Lybius

Barbet, Black-collared  Lybius torquatus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Steve Evans - South Africa  2) Dick Daniels - Kruger National Park, South Africa



Barbet, Brown-breasted  Lybius melanopterus   Found: Africa 
Photographed by: Ken Clifton - Tanzania

Barbet, White-headed  Lybius leucocephalus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) David Bygott - Tanzania  2) Ken Clifton - Kenya



Genus Pogoniulus

Tinkerbird, Red-fronted Pogoniulus pusillus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Clive Reid - Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa 2) Carol Foil - Nairobi National Park, Kenya


Tinkerbird, Yellow-fronted Pogoniulus chrysoconus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Arno Meintjes



Genus Stactolaema

Barbet, White-eared  Stactolaema leucotis  Found: Africa
Photographed by: Dick Daniels - South Africa
   Note: I'm fairly certain this is a White-eared Barbet, but still have some doubt!



Genus Trachyphonus

Barbet, d'Arnaud's Trachyphonus darnaudii   Found: Africa
Photographed by Dick Daniels - Tanzaia


Barbet, Crested Trachyphonus vaillantii   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Vjosullivan  2) Arno Meintjes   3) Greg Tee    4) Dick Daniels - Kruger National Park, South Africa


Barbet, Red-and-yellow Trachyphonus erythrocephalus   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1) Darren Bellerby - Jurong Bird Park, Singapore  2, 3) Trisha Shears at Cincinnati Zoo  3) Dick Daniels - Tanzaia

Barbet, Usambiro  Trachyphonus usambiro  Found: Kenya, Tanzania
Photographed by: Neil Strickland



Genus Tricholaema

Barbet, Pied  Tricholaema leucomelas  Found: Africa 
Photographed by: 1, 2) Francesco Veronesi - Etosha Namibia 


Barbet, Red-fronted  Tricholaema diademata  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) David Bygott - Tanzania
1) Agressive during banding!


Barbet, Spot-flanked  Tricholaema lacrymosa   Found: Africa 
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Carol Foil - Kenya

The family Megalaimidae is comprised of the Asian barbets. Until recently they were considered to be part of the New World barbet family, Capitonidae. They are usually plump-looking, with large heads, and their heavy bill is fringed with bristles.


Genus Megalaima

Barbet, Black-browed  aka Muller's Barbet  Megalaima oorti   Found: Asia
Photographed by: 1) Robert tdc  2, 3) Hiyashi Haka


Barbet, Blue-throated   Megalaima asiatica  Found: Asia
Photographed by:  1) Darren Bellerby - Edward Youde Aviary, Hong Kong   2) Mdf - Kolkata, West Bengal, India


Barbet, Coppersmith  Megalaima haemacephala  Found: Asia
Photographed by: 1) Ravi Vaidyanathan - Mumbai  2) Auditi the Stargazer - Ahmednagar, India


Barbet, Great  Megalaima virens  Found: Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Darren Bellerby  3) Meghana Kulkarni - Chakrata, Uttarakhand, India


Barbet, Lineated  Megalaima lineata   Found: Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2) J. M. Garg - Kolkata, West Bengal, India  3) Charlie Westerinen - Chiang Mai ,Thailand



Genus Psilopogon - 1 species

Barbet, Fire-tufted  Psilopogon pyrolophus  Found: Asia
Photographed by Charlie Westerinen - San Diego Zoo in California





American barbets inhabit tropical forests in Central and South America. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. They are closely related to the toucans. The American barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. Most species are brightly colored. Most American barbet species inhabit lowland forest. Their diet is similar to African barbets: fruit and insects. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed pits regurgitated later. These birds do not migrate. They nest in tree holes dug by breeding pairs. American barbets are quite similar to the African barbets which also belong to Piciformes. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Eubucco

Barbet, Red-headed  Eubucco bourcierii    Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Ana Agreda - Ecuador  2) José Loaiza - Ecuador
1) Male 2) Female




Family Semnornithidae - 1 genus

Genus Semnornis

Barbet, Toucan  Semnornis ramphastinus Found: South America
Photographed by:   1) Mmcnally - Ecuador  2) Michael Woodruff