Red and Yellow Barbet Trachyphonus erythrocephalus

The Red and Yellow Barbet, a striking bird in red and yellow with black and white polka dots and stripes is native to East Africa, from southeastern Sudan to northeastern Tanzania. It has a red beak and face, white ear and yellow nape with black feather ends; a lemon yellow body, black and white spotted wings and a barred tail.

The male (above left, camouflaged in pine) has a black cap, black throat patch and mainly pale yellow chest. The female (above right) is more colourful, with a black-dotted red head, no black throat patch and a red chest bordered with yellow.

Apart from their red and yellow colouring, their call is said to sound like "red and yellow" repeated.

They tunnel a nest chamber into banks and termite mounds where both parents and young helpers incubate the eggs.