A bird displaying a large, dignified beak adorned by a vibrant array of feathery bristles, shimmering in hues of orange, green, vivid yellow, and pure white.
The feathery bristles encircling the robust bills are a distinguishing feature shared by all barbets. Usambiro barbets, a specific type of D’Arnaud’s barbet, can be recognized by their shorter tails, longer wings, and darker bills. With its plump appearance, this bird exhibits a head adorned in a pale yellow hue with scattered black markings. The vibrant yellow-orange breast is speckled with black, and below it lies a distinct dark band. The wings showcase a striking contrast of black and white, while the vent displays a rusty red shade.
Both males and females look very similar in appearance.
This bird is found in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, especially in and around the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park.
This bird prefers inhabiting open areas such as savannah, open grassland, shrubland, and pasture.
A mostly solitary bird, they like to eat a wide variety of fruit. Sometimes frequenting plantations to feed on cultivated fruit and vegetables. They also like to dine on a wide range of insects like ants, cicadas, dragonflies, crickets, locusts, beetles, centipedes, and scorpions. They are thought to be an important agent in dispersing seeds.
These birds like to nest in tree cavities where the female will lat 2 – 4 eggs which she then incubates for 13-15 days. Both males and females will share parental duties.
Though living in a restricted range this species is not thought to be under any immediate risk.
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