Toucan Barbet
The Toucan Barbet ( Semnornis ramphastinus ) belongs to the South American genus of zinc beaks within the order of Piciformes. Currently, he is still classified in the family of barbets. Recent DNA analyzes have shown that the Barbet family is paraphyletic. That is, the beard birds of the New World, to which the Toucan Barbet counts are more closely related to the toucans, as with the beard birds of the Old World. For the genus of zinc beaks therefore their own family has been proposed with the name Semnornithidae.
Description
The body length is 22 centimeters. Males have a wing length from 9.7 to 11 inches, the tail measuring 7.2 to 8.3 inches. The beak length is 2.2 to 2.4 inches. Females have similar body size.
In the males, the upper head and the neck are shining black. A black background vertex from extended spring contrasting with a white eye-streak. In females, the elongated feathers are missing. The sides of the head, chest and throat are blue-gray. The top has a dark brown and the rump is yellowish. The wings are dark bluish gray and brown. The underside is yellowish gray and a reddish discoloration on the chest and abdomen. The short tail is gray-blue. The beak is pale yellow with a dark tip. The legs are green, red-brown eyes. Your reputation the couples usually perform a duet, is antiphonal ( alternating vocals).
Occurrence and habitat
From the Toucan Barbet are two subspecies. Semnornis ramphastinus ramphastinus occurs in southwestern Colombia (Valle del Cauca, Cauca and Nariño ). Semnornis ramphastinus caucae is native to northwestern Ecuador. Its habitat is mountain cloud forests at an altitude 1000-1400 m in the rainy Chocó region at the western foot of the Andes
Lifestyle and diet
Toucan - barbets feed exclusively on fruits. They are site- faithful and defend their territory throughout the year. It is interesting to brood care of the toucan barbets. They breed in groups. Not only the parents take care of the incubation of eggs and rearing their young, but also the offspring from previous broods. The nests and sleeping spaces are located in tree hollows. The incubation period lasts for 15 days and the young fledge after 45 days.