Kingdom Animalia Family Lybiidae Scientific name Trachyphonus usambiro Rank Species | Class Aves Genus Trachyphonus Phylum Chordata Order Piciformes | |
 | ||
Similar D'Arnaud's barbet, Trachyphonus, White‑headed barbet, Anchieta's barbet, Western tinkerbird | ||
The Usambiro barbet (Trachyphonus darnaudii usambiro) is a subspecies of bird in the Lybiidae family. This species has long been considered to be a subspecies of D'Arnaud's barbet, along with Emin's barbet. It varies from that species having a longer wing, shorter tail, darker bill. The Usambiro barbet was originally described as a subspecies of D'Arnaud's barbet in 1908 by Oscar Rudolph Neumann from a specimen collected in Usambiro in Tanzania. It is monotypic, meaning it has no subspecies.
It is found in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, and is found in Maasai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park. The species inhabits open areas including savannah, grassland, shrubland and pastures. It ranges from 1,100–2,100 m (3,600–6,900 ft) above sea-level. Where the species' range overlaps with the Red-and-yellow barbet, this species will avoid the streambeds favoured by the larger Red-and-yellow barbet and occupies flat areas.
The Usambiro barbet is 18 to 19 cm (7.1–7.5 in) long and weighs 37–50.5 g (1.31–1.78 oz). The head is yellow with black spots and the wings are black with white spots. The breast is also yellow with a dark breast band.The belly is pale yellow with a reddish vent. The sexes are similar.
The diet of this species is assumed to be the same as the D'Arnaud's barbet, comprising seeds, fruit and a wide range of insects.