Bird Guide

Orange-fronted Barbet vs Spot-crowned Barbet

Orange-fronted Barbet (Capito squamatus)

Orange-fronted Barbet

Capito squamatus

Small59 gForest

The orange-fronted barbet is 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 56 to 64 g (2.0 to 2.3 oz). The male has a white crown and an orange to red forecrown (the "front"). Its head except for the chin and its upperparts are black; white on some wing feathers remain visible when they are folded. Its underside from chin to the belly are yellowish white, sometimes with an orange tinge. Its flanks usually have light black spotting and the vent area is black. The female's front is yellow-orange; the rest of its head, its throat, and chest are black. Voice: The orange-fronted barbet's song is a "low-pitched, very fast, soft, purring trill" . Its call is a noisy "tyik" or "trrik" .

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Orange-fronted Barbet
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Esmeraldas: Canandé ridge trail, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: andrew2285 · CC0
Spot-crowned Barbet (Capito maculicoronatus)

Spot-crowned Barbet

Capito maculicoronatus

Small53 gForest

The spot-crowned barbet is 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 44 to 66 g (1.6 to 2.3 oz). The nominate male is mostly black above with a crown having brown-white spots. Its throat is white, its upper breast yellow to orange, and the lower breast and belly white with black spots. It has a splash of yellow to orange on the flanks. The female differs by having a black throat and upper breast. C. m. rubrilateralis has more white on its crown and its flank mark is orange to red. Voice: The spot-crowned barbet's principal vocalization is " a series of harsh "kkaaak" notes, gradually shifting to "kkkaakkk" sounds; it has been described as both a song and a call .

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Tim Lenz · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Orange-fronted Barbet and Spot-crowned Barbet.