This barbet has a boldly black-and-white striped head further enlivened by a bright red forehead patch. This latter feature is shared locally only with the much smaller Red-fronted Tinkerbird.

The Acacia Pied Barbet is by far the most widespread, and hence arguably the most successful, of the local members of this family. In particular, its range extends deep into arid areas such as the Karoo and Kalahari, regions largely shunned by other South African barbets. It has undergone a dramatic expansion in range in recent times. This has been driven mainly by the spread of alien trees, allowing its colonization of regions which were previously largely treeless, such as large parts of the Karoo, fynbos and grassland biomes. The ubiquitous spread of artificial watering points in drier areas has also been to its benefit.

The primary call of this barbet is a blaring nasal alarm-like vocalization, somewhat similar to that emanating from a reversing heavy duty truck. By contrast, its main alternate call is a rather soft and soothing series of hooping notes. 

Befitting its rather enterprising nature, these barbets occasional roost in the old enclosed mud nests of some swallows and also in weaver nests. It has even been confirmed nesting in the mud nest of the Greater Striped Swallow.

Like all barbets, its main food comprises fruits, especially mistletoes and figs. But how, unlike others of its kin, it manages to thrive in drier environments that would seem depauperate in such bounty is a secret this successful barbet has so far kept largely to itself.

Bird illustrations are from Sasol Birds of Southern Africa published by Struik Nature. Illustrations © by Norman Arlott are used with kind permission of the Arlott family.
www.struiknature.co.za