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Last night on 50/50 they showed the rare yellow variation of the Black-collard Barbet... a video taken in Fourways Johannesburg, and this was apparently only the 2nd sighting of the bird in JHB ... (The rare colour one).

Here's one from Pkop

Here is a pic from a series I did in front of our hut at Lower Sabie as we were packing up. The cleaners dropped a coke can and a bit of apple on the lawn and as I was about to pick it up the Crested Barbet arrived at the apple and was very soon chased off by this Black collared cousin.

He saw himself in the mirror and wasn't very impressed with the intruder in his garden.



Food for the baby...

If you want the Black Collared Barbet to nest in your garden get a Sisal stem of about .7 Metres long and hang it in a tree. In JHB when we lived there I hang one bought at an indigenous Nursery at Witkoppen at 08h30 and by 12 noon there were wooden chips on the ground and once the eggs were laid then the Lesser Honeyguide spent its days trying to get in to lay its egg. Exactly the same thing happenned in Grahamstown and we also had the Honeyguide who was successful this time!!

Hi All.

In response to the first posting on this thread regarding the Yellow phase in Johannesburg, we live in North Riding and have regular sightings of the yellow phase from time to time. A few years ago I had two yellow phase individuals visiting my bone meal feeding station at the same time. Before this I had collected two specimens that where casualties of flying into the windows in our house. The one specimen is now in London, the other remains in our deep freeze. I offered the specimens to the Transvaal museum, but the person I spoke to was not particularly interested so the body remains with me. Sightings had been reported in the area from time to time before we moved here 7 years ago (Clive Hopcroft quoted by Janice Isom), so it seams to me that the 'yellow phase' gene pool is in the area - which is now threatened by the development of "North Riding Celebration" across Northumberland Avenue from North Gate Mall and the Dome.

We have not seen the yellow phase for about 2 years now but know that we could see one any day. In the seven years we have been here they have twice cropped up with regular sightings over a two or three year window. These sightings involve at least two or more individuals at one time. This is borne out by seen two individuals at the same time, and the fact that I had two specimens in my deep freeze at one time.

This phase may not be as rare as currently believed.

By the way I still believe the red phase is the more handsome and appealing to the human eye, the yellow in the yellow phase is a sort of lime yellow unlike the stricking yellow of, say, the Bokmakierie. I was fortunate enough to see a yellow phase of the Crimson-breasted Shrike in Rundu, Namibia in the late seventies and that was indeed a striking bird.

Hope these observations may be of interest to some of you.

Regards and a merry festive season to All,

MalcolmDee H

Blackcollared Barbet
Rooikophoutkapper
Lybius torquatus

Habitat: Coastal bush, woodland, forest edge, riverine forest, parks and gardens.
Habits: Solitary, in pairs or small groups. Highly vocal (especially in summer), they bob up and down, opening and closing their wings as they call. Up to 11 birds may roost together in nest hole. Flight fast and direct with whirring wings.
Food: Fruit (especially figs) and insects.

A Juvenile:

A xanthochroic black-collared barbet (where the red is replaced with yellow) frequents the feeder at the Bistro in Wakkerstroom's main road. Of course the bird had to be trapped and ringed. According to Lizzie, the force behind the Bistro, this is still a young bird.

A pear in a flap-trap did the honours and the xanthochroic black-collared barbet could be ringed. Xanthochroism is a rare genetic mutation.


Large view


Large view

In the hand it was clear to see that this barbet had not yet reached adulthood as the eyes still had a degree or two to go before the deep red colour of an adult would be evident.

I guess I have to count myself fortunate for having had a LIVE one in hand

Witnessed this mating session between the BCbarbets.




Then a quiet word to him: 'hurry up, we'r having visitors:




But the visitor seems disinterested by their activities (or maybe waits his turn? )





And then I got the dirty look as if saying :" And what are YOU looking at?"

Great pics Yolandé Here is mine (seen in Berg-en-Dal)

The first Black-collared Barbet photographed in our garden!


Large Image

Beautiful

Brilliant photo PL!!