Five-colored Barbet Capito quinticolor Scientific name definitions

The Five-colored Barbet is an uncommon and local member of the genus Capito that is endemic to the Choco region of southwestern Colombia and extreme northwestern Ecuador. It gets its name for the striking plumage, which is a combination of black, white, yellow, and red. The male is mostly black above, white below, with yellow spotting on the wings and scapulars, a black mask, and a red crown. The lower belly and undertail coverts are yellow-orange streaked with black. The female is characterized by heavy black spotting on the white underparts. Somewhat resembles in plumage the Gilded Barbet (Capito auratus) of Amazonia. The Five-colored Barbet if restricted to the lowlands and lower foothills generally below 500 meters elevation. It favors primary forest and forest edge situations. The Orange-fronted Barbet (Capito squamatus), which is more widespread from Panama to western Ecuador, overlaps with Five-colored range, but differs greatly in plumage and voice. The main song of Five-colored is a very owl-like “hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo,” delivered rather slowly, compared with the long rapid staccato trill “rru-rru-rru-rru-rru…” of Orange-fronted. Most often seen in pairs, occasionally joining up with mixed-species flocks. This species is considered highly vulnerable due to its very limited range, and the high degree of deforestation in the lowlands of northwestern Ecuador.