Growth and development of Crested Barbet <i>Trachyphonus vaillantii</i> nestlings

Abstract

The Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii is a common resident of the open woodlands and semi-arid savannah regions of southern Africa. Although aspects of its breeding biology are well known, much of it remains unknown due to its cavity-nesting behaviour. In 2008, I placed some artificial nest boxes in strategic positions in the Polokwane Nature Reserve (S23°56 E 29°28) in the hope of elucidating some of the unknown aspects of the breeding of cavitynesting species.