What is a 'New World Barbet'?

New World Barbets, family Capitonidae, are passerine (small or medium-sized, chiefly perching) birds of the order Piciformes which inhabit humid forests in Central and South America. They are closely related to the Toucans.

The New World Barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured and live in tropical forest.

These Barbets are mostly arboreal birds; they nest in tree holes dug by breeding pairs, laying 2–4 eggs. They eat fruit and insects. These birds do not migrate.

While most New World Barbet species inhabit lowland forest, some range into montane (mountainous) and temperate forests as well. Most are restricted to habitats containing trees with dead wood, which are used for nesting.

The diet of Barbets is mixed, with fruit being the dominant part of the diet. Small prey items are also taken, especially when nesting. Barbets are capable of shifting their diet quickly in the face of changes in food availability: Numerous species of fruiting tree and bush are visited; an individual Barbet may feed on as many as 60 different species in its range. They will also visit plantations and take cultivated fruit and vegetables. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed pits regurgitated later (often before singing).

Like their relatives, New World Barbets are thought to be important agents in seed dispersal in tropical forests.