Capitonidae – New World barbets

Barbets of this family live in wet woodlands. They’re fat birds with giant heads and short necks. The bristles that border their thick bills give them their name. The first and fourth toes are twisted backward and paired in pairs. The majority of species have vibrant colors. Barbets are typically arboreal birds that build their own nests in tree holes.

Breeding partners lay two to four eggs. They eat fruit primarily but also insects. When birds are breeding, insects constitute a significant element of their diet. Ants, beetles, and moths are among the insects that are captured. Scorpions and centipedes are also eaten, as are tiny vertebrates like frogs by a few species.