Tooth-Billed Barbet.
Pogonornis bidentatus.
A conspicuously-coloured bird, it is one of the largest barbets of West Africa.
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Tooth-Billed Barbet. Pogonornis bidentatus. A conspicuously-coloured bird, it is one of the largest barbets of West Africa. |
| Recognition: Medium size. The upperparts and wings blue-black, except for the lower back which is white (a conspicuous feature in flight). The underparts are dull crimson-red from throat to belly and this distinguishes it from the related savannah species, the Bearded Barbet, which has a black white band across the breast. White flanks. A patch of bare yellow skin around the eye and a massive, toothed, yellowish bill. |
| Distribution: Throughout wooded West Africa, particularly farms and gardens in forest country. |
| Habits: Usually solitary. Shy, in the sense that it keeps largely in shelter, nevertheless comes into gardens and reveals its presence with loud calling. Insectivorous, but said to catch fish; it certainly frequents streams. Nests in tree holes or excavates a hole in an old termite nest. |
| Call: Mainly a silent species but has some low gutural calls such as "Kroo-oo". |
