CRESTED BARBET

Trachyphonus vaillantii
Kuifkophoutkapper (Afrikaans)

HABITAT
Found throughout KwaZulu-Natal except the southern part of the province. It inhabits thornveld, thickets in woodland, riverine bush, plantations and urban gardens.

TYPE
A brightly coloured, robust barbet of medium size. Head crest, back, tail and broad breast band black. Spotted and scalloped with white, head and face yellow, scaled with red. The rump is red, belly yellow streaked with red. The eyes are red brown, bill yellow green, feet and legs grey green.

FOOD
Crested Barbets forage in bushes and trees as well as on the ground. they feed on insects, especially termites, worms, fruit, snails and birds eggs.

BREEDING
They nest from August to February in KwaZulu-Natal and may rear up to four broods per year. They nest in holes excavated in tree trunks or branches usually producing three white eggs.

STATUS
A common resident.