White-headed Barbet
Lybius leucocephalus
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- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPiciformes (Woodpeckers and Allies)
- FamilyLybiidae (African Barbets)
- GenusLybius (Typical African Barbets)
- SpeciesLybius leucocephalus (White-headed Barbet)
About the White-headed Barbet
The white-headed barbet (Lybius leucocephalus) is a species of bird in the family Lybiidae. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
This species of African barbet comprises several races distinguished by different duetting song patters but all have a raucous greeting ceremony. It is the only barbet species to use simultaneous singing during a duet. This species is one of the largest in this genus at 18–19.5 cm (7.1–7.7 in) in length. It is a black and white type of barbet that has a stubby neck and a heavy-toothed bill. It is found in open woodland areas that are close to water and cultivation. It utilizes fig and jacaranda trees to find food and to excavate nests. These birds are also very social and live in small groups.
Lybius leucocephalus includes the following subspecies: L. l. adamauae - Reichenow, 1921 L. l. leucocephalus - (de Filippi, 1853) L. l. senex - (Reichenow, 1887) L. l. albicauda - (Shelley, 1881) L. l. lynesi - Grant, CHB & Mackworth-Praed, 1938
L. l. leucogaster - (Barboza du Bocage, 1877) Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of White-headed Barbet in Masai Mara National Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve
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Lybius bidentatus
D'Arnaud's Barbet
Trachyphonus darnaudii
Spot-flanked Barbet
Tricholaema lacrymosa
Red-fronted Barbet
Tricholaema diademata
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
Pogoniulus bilineatus
Grey-throated Barbet
Gymnobucco bonapartei
Nubian Woodpecker
Campethera nubica
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Eastern Grey Woodpecker
Dendropicos spodocephalus
Lesser Honeyguide
Indicator minor
Greater Honeyguide
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Campethera maculosa
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 2 | Kidepo Valley National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 3 | Lake Mburo National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 4 | Meru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 5 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 6 | Lake Nakuru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 7 | Masai Mara National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 8 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 9 | Akagera National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 10 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 11 | Ruaha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 12 | Lake Manyara National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 13 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 14 | Aberdare National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 15 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 16 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 17 | Arusha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 18 | Kibale National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 19 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 20 | Semuliki National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 21 | Amboseli National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 22 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 23 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a White-headed Barbet in Masai Mara National Reserve?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a White-headed Barbet sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 207 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see White-headed Barbet in Masai Mara National Reserve?
November has the highest sighting rate for White-headed Barbet in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.