tags: Maasai Barbet, Masai Barbet, Usambiro Barbet, Trachyphonus usambiro, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Usambiro Barbet, also known as the Maasai (Masai) Barbet, Trachyphonus usambiro, photographed outside the visitor's center for the Serengeti National Park headquarters, Tanzania, Africa. They have a wonderful visitor center with a short trail through a Kopje, interpretive signage, and a small pool for birds and mammals to drink at. This bird was hanging out at the pool, drinking and looking for handouts. It was so tame that it would eat from your hand, and one of our group actually grabbed it with his hand -- resulting in much bird screaming and scattering of all the other birds. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen, 19 January 2010 [larger view].
Nikon D300, 600 mm lens, ISO 640, f/8, 1/160 sec. Exposure compensation -1.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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Well, the bristles, heavy bill, and characteristic spangled markings on the wings and tail take us straight to the Barbets again... D'Arnaud's, the Red and Yellow, and the Crested are all similar but have light-colored bills but in terms of plumage, keying in on that family (actually genus) takes us to D'Arnaud's sister, originally classified as a subspecies of the same, but now separated taxonomically and also by the Rift Valley, D'Arnaud's staying east and our friend above staying west...
I nearly voted for Speckled Tinkerbird, but found it is now extirpated in both Kenya and Tanzania.
No further clues without giving the game away, David
Adrian,
Still an abundant species across Africa though but take a look at the iris, shape of the bill, and length of the tail:
Speckled Tinkerbird in Lagos, Nigeria
Speckled Tinkerbird in Lekki, Nigeria