The most distinctive feature of this rather darkly coloured barbet is the broad white stripe curving from behind the eye down the side of the neck and from which it takes its name. This bird has a penchant for spending long periods perched on the highest and most exposed treetops in its forested habitats. 

White-eared Barbets are gregarious birds occurring in small flocks that likely comprise extended families. They are cooperative breeders with every group member assisting in incubating the eggs and feeding the young. All group members roost together communally every night in a tree hole and up to 11 individual birds have been observed to pack into a single cavity at dusk.

As expected in such a social bird, they are noisy creatures with much group chattering. Many of their loudest and most far-carrying calls are very strident and parrot-like in nature.

The distribution of this barbet is fairly restricted in South Africa and it is found only along the coast and immediately adjacent areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Like many other local barbets, it has expanded its range in recent years. Once present only as far south as the Tugela River mouth, it has spread southwards as far as the Eastern Cape border. It has also moved inland becoming increasingly widespread in Durban’s well-wooded suburban gardens. There are even recent records as far inland as Pietermaritzburg.

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