Capito auratus
The Gilded Barbet (Capito auratus) is a striking member of the Capitonidae family, distinguished by its vibrant plumage and robust form. Males boast a brilliant golden-yellow crown and forehead, contrasting sharply with a black back, white underparts often streaked with black, and a bright red vent. Females exhibit a similar pattern but typically have a duller, less extensive golden crown and more pronounced black streaking on the head sides. Measuring approximately 16-19 cm in length and wei...
Humid tropical lowland and foothill forests, often near water or forest edges, typically below 1000m elevation.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of tropical fruits and berries, supplemented with insects such as beetles, ants, and larvae.
Diurnal by nature, the Gilded Barbet is typically observed foraging actively during daylight hours, often moving deliberately through the mid-canopy and subcanopy layers of the forest. Its foraging strategy involves both fruit-pecking and gleaning insects from bark and foliage, often pausing to e...
The Gilded Barbet boasts an extensive geographical distribution across the vast Amazon Basin of South America, making it one of the most widespread barbet species in the region. Its primary breeding and year-round range encompasses parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Guy...
Least Concern
- The Gilded Barbet belongs to the order Piciformes, making it a distant cousin to woodpeckers and toucans, sharing the characteristic zygodactyl feet. - Its common name, 'Gilded,' refers to the brilliant golden-yellow crown, especially prominent and extensive in males. - Unlike many smaller fore...