Five-colored Barbet

Overview

The five-colored barbet (Capito quinticolor) is a species of bird in the family Capitonidae. It is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, with its population suspected to be declining due to habitat loss.

Identification

• Males are mostly black above with a yellow 'V' on the mantle, a red crown and nape, yellow wingbars, and a throat and breast that brighten to gold or orange on the belly with black-spotted flanks.
• Females resemble males but are heavily streaked with gold on the upperparts, and their underparts feature black spots throughout.
• The species measures 17 to 18 cm in length and weighs between 54 and 69 g.
• Vocalisations include a low-pitched, hollow hoop trill and a guttural 'churr' call, with both sexes singing.

Habitat

Native to western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador, this species inhabits wet primary and mature secondary forest, as well as forest edges and disturbed areas. It typically ranges in elevation from near sea level to 350 m, though it can be found up to approximately 600 m locally.

Diet

The diet is primarily fruit, though insects are also consumed. Foraging occurs from mid-level to the canopy in forest interiors and extends to the understory at forest edges, often in association with mixed-species foraging flocks.

Did you know?

A third adult has been observed accompanying apparently mated pairs, a social behaviour that is particularly notable given that the species' breeding phenology is otherwise practically unknown.