Birds
Black-collared Barbet
Lybius torquatus · also called black-collared barbets
Calling in perfect alternation with its mate, a pair of black-collared barbets can sound to a human ear like a single bird, one of the most precisely synchronised duets found anywhere in the bird world, delivered from a black head marked by a bright red throat patch.
Overview
The black-collared barbet, Lybius torquatus, is a duetting bird native to forest and grassland habitat across sub-Saharan Africa. Its remarkably synchronised paired calling, striking black-and-red head pattern, and self-excavated nest cavities make it one of the most behaviourally impressive and visually distinctive members of the entire barbet family found anywhere in Africa.
Two voices, one perfectly timed call
The black-collared barbet’s duet is timed with such precision that untrained ears often mistake the calls of two birds for the voice of just one, a level of vocal coordination rarely matched elsewhere in the bird world.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable forest and grassland habitat throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Black-collared Barbet: common questions
How synchronised is the black-collared barbet's duet?
This species performs precisely synchronised duets, with a mated pair calling in such tightly timed alternation that the two voices can sound to a human ear like a single bird calling rather than two.
How can you identify a black-collared barbet?
This species has a black head contrasted by a bright red throat patch, a striking combination that stands out clearly against its otherwise duller body.
How does the black-collared barbet build its nest?
This species excavates its own nest cavity in dead wood, a habit shared broadly across the barbet family and similar to the nesting behaviour of many woodpeckers.
Where is the black-collared barbet found?
This species is native to forest and grassland habitat across sub-Saharan Africa, found across a wide range of wooded habitats from forest edges to gardens.