The D’Arnaud’s Barbet (Trachyphonus darnaudii) is a small east African bird.

The D’Arnaud’s Barbet has a yellow head with black spots and a narrow, black crown. Its upperparts are black with white spots, and its underparts are yellow with black spots. It has bristles (called barbets) on its pinky-cream beak.

D’Arnaud’s Barbet

It grows to about 16 centimetres (6 inches).

It prefers semi-arid deserts, scrublands, and wooded savannahs.

The D’Arnaud’s Barbet feeds on insects, fruits, berries, and seeds.

It nests in a vertical tunnel, about one metre (3 feet) into the ground, with a sideways and upward turn that leads to the nest chamber. Females lay 2-4 eggs.

D’Arnaud’s Barbet

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM