Photo: Николай Усик / http://paradoxusik.livejournal.com/ / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown-breasted Barbet
Pogonornis melanopterus
Brown-breasted Barbet (Pogonornis melanopterus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown-breasted Barbet (Pogonornis melanopterus) is a member of the Lybiidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 52.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Lybiidae African Barbets
- Genus Pogonornis
- Species melanopterus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 52.4 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Lybiidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown-breasted Barbet is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Brown-breasted Barbet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown-breasted Barbet (Pogonornis melanopterus) is a member of the Lybiidae family, within the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Somalia to Mozambique.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 52.4 g, with a wing length of about 9.2 cm and a tail of around 6.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 810,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown-breasted Barbet?
The Brown-breasted Barbet is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52.4 g.
Where does the Brown-breasted Barbet live?
The Brown-breasted Barbet is found across Africa with a range covering AF Somalia to Mozambique, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Brown-breasted Barbet belong to?
The Brown-breasted Barbet (Pogonornis melanopterus) belongs to the Lybiidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Brown-breasted Barbet eat?
The Brown-breasted Barbet is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Brown-breasted Barbet migrate?
The Brown-breasted Barbet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown-breasted Barbet endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Brown-breasted Barbet's range?
The Brown-breasted Barbet has a mapped global range of about 810,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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