The versicolored barbet is a very colorful species of bird in the family Capitonidae, the New World barbets. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.
Region
Central Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs on the humid east slopes of the Andes from central Peru into western Bolivia. It inhabits montane and cloud forests, favoring the mid-story to canopy where fruiting trees are abundant. The species also uses edges, secondary growth, and forested ravines, and will visit disturbed areas if large fruiting trees remain. It is typically local but can be fairly common where habitat is intact.
Altitude Range
800–2300 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This New World barbet is noted for its strikingly multicolored plumage, which varies among subspecies across its Andean range. Pairs often duet with mellow, repeated notes and are frequently encountered at fruiting trees. Like other barbets, they excavate their own nest cavities in decaying wood. They play an ecological role as seed dispersers in montane forests.
Temperament
quiet and unobtrusive in canopy
Flight Pattern
short undulating flights between perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups, and regularly joins mixed-species flocks at fruiting trees. Pairs maintain small territories and communicate with soft duets. Both sexes excavate nest cavities in soft or decaying wood and share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, hollow, and evenly paced series of repeated notes, often given in duets by a pair. Calls include mellow ‘puk’ or ‘poop’ notes and quiet chatter around feeding sites.
Plumage
Compact, thick-set barbet with a mosaic of bright colors; upperparts largely green with contrasting, vividly colored head and throat patches. Underparts range from yellow to orange with variable washes and mottling depending on subspecies. Bill is stout and slightly hooked with bristly feathering at the base.
Diet
Primarily eats small fruits and berries, including those of figs and other canopy trees, swallowing them whole and later dispersing seeds. Supplements its diet with insects and other arthropods gleaned from foliage and bark. Occasionally takes nectar or soft plant matter when fruit is scarce.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mostly in the canopy and upper mid-story at fruiting trees, but will descend to edges and clearings with isolated fruiting shrubs. Often forages methodically from a perch, making short sallies or hops to nearby branches.
