Bearded Barbet (Lybius dubius) ©WikiC Head

I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. (Psalms 50:11 ESV)

Formed By Him – Bearded Barbet

The Bearded Barbet (Lybius dubius) is an African barbet of the western and central parts. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. The Bearded Barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. All the barbets get their name from the bristles or tufts of feathers. The Bearded Barbet has the greatest beard.

Bearded Barbet (Lybius dubius) ©WikiC

I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6 ESV)

The Bearded Barbet is a common resident breeder in tropical west Africa. It is an arboreal species of gardens and wooded country which eats fruit, although the young are fed also insects. It’s sharp beak, not as hard as a woodpecker’s, is not only used for eating but also for pounding in stumps or dead trees to make nests.The have tooth-like grooves in their beaks.

The courtship of tail-flicking, food offerings and some special sounds precede. It nests in the tree hole, laying 2 white eggs. The birds are incubated for 16 days and “helper” birds also share in the incubation and care of the young birds.

Bearded Barbet (Lybius dubius) ©© Passing food

This is a conspicuous, large barbet at 10.2 in (26 cm). It is fairly plump (2.8-3.8 oz/80-108 gm), with a short neck, large head and a shortish tail. The adult has a black crown, back, tail and breast band. The throat and belly are red and there is a yellow eye patch. The rump is white. The massive bill is very thick and yellow, and the well developed clump or tuft of bristles at its base give the species its name. Sexes are similar in appearance. The call is a growling scrawk.

The Bearded Barbet is found in well-wooded areas with plentiful fig trees. It will enter gardens for fruit and also capture insect for their young. It forms social groups of 4-5 birds and pairs or groups roost together in a tree cavity. They are known to drink nearly every chance they get, usually from a tree crevice.

The Lord has formed these birds so that they have their needs provided for by His Creative Hand. The beak appears to help in the excavation for nests and eating figs and other fruits. Not exactly sure about the beard, but some times those face bristles help keep wood chips out of their eyes or nostrils. Couldn’t get a definitive answer to that part, though it is no mystery to its Creator.

There are other Bearded birds around the world and one is mentioned in the Bible. There is the Bearded Bellbird, Guan, Helmetcrest, Mountaineer, Reedling, Screech Owl, Scrub Robin, Tachuri, Vulture, Wood Partridge, and Woodpecker, Manakin, Thornbill, 3 Bee-eaters, Hermit.

Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) ©WikiC

But these are the ones that you shall not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, (Deuteronomy 14:12 ESV)

The Bearded Barbet is in the African Barbet – Lybiidae Family and are in the Piciformes Order which is the Woodpeckers and their Allies.

Info from various internet sources including, Wikipedia, St. Louis Zoo, and others.

Wordless Birds