The yellow-breasted barbet is a species of bird in the Lybiidae family. It is found in Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan.
Region
Sahel and Horn of Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs across arid and semi-arid savannas, thorn scrub, and dry woodland, especially with Acacia and Commiphora. It frequents rocky slopes, wadis, and dry riverine belts where scattered trees provide cover and nesting sites. The species readily visits fruiting shrubs and trees and may appear in village edges and farmlands. It uses natural cavities or termite mounds for nesting in these open, sparsely treed landscapes.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This striking Sahelian barbet is known for persistent duets between pairs that advertise territory. It often excavates nest cavities in dead wood or earthen/termite mounds. By feeding on fruits, it helps disperse seeds across dry savanna habitats.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, undulating hops between bushes
Social Behavior
Typically found singly or in pairs, maintaining and advertising territories with antiphonal duets. Both sexes excavate and defend nest cavities, often in soft dead wood or termite mounds. Nesting involves cooperative incubation and feeding, with pairs remaining together across seasons.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, rhythmic series of repeated notes and trills delivered in persistent duets, often at dawn. Calls carry far in open country and include rattling chaks and rolling phrases.
Plumage
Coarsely spotted and streaked upperparts with a bold, clean yellow breast and belly. The head is dark with fine white spotting and pale streaks, and the mantle shows white speckling. Feathers are dense and slightly shaggy around the neck, giving a chunky, big-headed look.
Diet
Eats a mix of wild fruits and berries along with a substantial portion of insects such as beetles, termites, and ants. Opportunistically takes other invertebrates and occasionally seeds. It plays a role in seed dispersal by passing viable seeds from fleshy fruits.
Preferred Environment
Forages in thorn scrub and open woodland, at fruiting trees and shrubs, and sometimes on the ground near termitaria or fallen fruit. It will also feed along dry riverbeds and at edges of villages and farms.
