American barbets of the family Capitonidae inhabit humid forests. They are plump birds with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles that fringe their heavy bills. Their toes are arranged in pairs with the first and fourth toes turned backward. Most species are brightly colored. Barbets are mostly arboreal birds that nest in tree holes dug by themselves. Breeding pairs lay 2–4 eggs. They feed on mostly fruit,
but also take insects and are not known to migrate. Insect are important part of the barbet’s died when bird are nesting. A wide range of insects are taken, including ants, beetles and moths. Scorpions and centipedes are also taken, and a few species will take small vertebrates such as frogs. There are two genera and six species of Barbets known to occur in Peru. Photo: Gilded Barbet.
BUCCONIDAE: Puffbirds & Nunbirds – Bucos