A Barbet is a type of parrot that is distinguished by eye color, rounded eye down/feather colorations, throat and underbeak colors, beak shape, and plumage shape. Barbets are considered the rare lion of the parrot world. The bird song of the barbet is one of many exotic bird species whose calls and song saturate the atmosphere of the Far East. Barbets can be found in the wild, in protected bird sanctuaries, and even filling the night bazaars with chirping.

Appellations of special colors present in a barbet are used to denote that breed or special development in color, such as a white-rumped, red crested, black-browed or brown eyed barbet.

 

The great barbet is a larger sized barbet variety. This barbet has a larger range of flight, a wider prey base, and a natural habitat in Eastern regions where a larger hunting area is naturally protected.

 

Barbets in the wild can have a strong brown and black patterning most suited for camouflage in natural fern, trees, bark and brush.

 

A barbet parrot is a native bird of Thailand and lands in the Far East and Malaysia peninsula. The winding call and range of notes can be very pleasant to enjoy. Barbets hatch from chicks and breed them in the wild using calls to communicate. Natural call sounds fascinate parrot enthusiasts. Barbet parrots eat cooked parrot food, dry seed, and prepared mixtures. Dried fruit bits, rice, and small wheat seeds and ground dried beans make tasty feed mixtures in different combinations.

 

When contemplating a domesticated barbet pet, the woodland and sub arboreal natural habitat of the wild barbet should be envisioned. A dead quiet environment is not suggested, nor is a excessively noisy home or cage location. The natural sounds of the woodland might be imitated with a small fountain, and green shrubbery might substitute for ground cover. Various perch options should offer a domesticated barbet recreation options inside the cage, as well as natural type toys and features for natural healthy growth.

 

Healthy feather growth covers its skin, keeping it moist and preventing it from being exposed to bacteria and airborne viruses. Parrots not observing natural behavior or instinctive bathing in mist fall or shallow baths should be examined at the underling and skin level. . Owners should always be on lookout for beak and feather diseases. Feather pulling and plucking can be prevented by tying on a preventative linen vest that protects the skin and hide through the trunk and joints.

 

Clipping the wings of a barbet parrot is a matter of opinion. A crested barbet will have a natural high brush of feathers over the top of the head that should not be trimmed. The crest builds a more vertical profile desired in many pet birds, and the long tailed breeds enhance this feature. Claws and forelegs aid perching, catching food, and hanging from nesting holes or tree branches. The smaller head of the barbet will allow nesting hole entrance and head to head feeding to its young, more ably than large headed parrots.

 

In the wild, parrots can fly away from climates or areas which are too cold or too hot. But domesticated pet parrots must depend on their owners for temperature control in their living environment. Pet parrot owners can even shower with their parrots and blow dry their feathers! Birds will dip heads and beaks in water and toss water back to shoulders and neck, feathers and across the body. The bird will pause under or near the water as it falls.

 

Domestic parrots which become clipped to aid husbandry must depend on their owners in every instance from protection from predators and exist without flight. Tails can be used as anchoring and use of bracing when boring wood or nipping fruit. A clipped barbet limits flight and requires husbandry to survive without a full feathered wingspan. Beak stroking and nudging with fingers is permitted. Natural extended beaks aid in the capture of insects, prey and leaves. Barbets are less naturally reactive to humans than more “personified” birds like cockatoos and conures.

 

When tending the feathers of home birds and domesticated barbets, take care not to cut blood feathers and only remove flight feathers. Clipped barbets should not be trimmed excessively or bright colors and features of the barbet colorations might be eradicate. Domesticated barbet pets should be given baths to keep their striking plumage bright. Barbet birds should flirt with the water at least, as wild parrots receive similar washing from rain, pond water, and fountain or waterfall mist.

 

Forefeet and claw health should be checked regularly. In the wild barbets use their feet to balance, sort dried fruit, stamp insect wildlife, and negotiate branches and turf. In caged domestication barbets will come in contact with most contaminants through their zygodactyl claw feet. Arboreal barbets lacking these types of claw features must depend on their beaks to provide food such as termites, ants, insects and other forest delicacies. Some species of barbet subsist also on nectar and flower fruits.

 

What kind of bird cage does the Barbet type of parrot prefer? Little birds like the barbet need some knotty chewing branches for their prongish beaks, a little bit of branched material and various perches to relax forelegs. A barbet may want a larger cage with a companion animal, but a smaller cage might be selected for better controlled shading and environment control. Thick barbet bills with sharp boring capabilities mean barbets can core nests out of vertical faces of sheltered wood. A wood plank inside the cage would allow healthy activity for a caged barbet.

 

Please visit the Tropical Bird Forum for information about tropical birds.

 

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