Habitat
The understorey of premontane to montane evergreen forest and edges, in dense second growth, overgrown pastures and dense growth with scattered trees around gardens. From 1,000 - 2,400 m.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010) and decreasing.
Status NT
Habitat loss through intensive logging, human settlement, cattle grazing, mining and coca and palm cultivation, trapping for the local and international cage-bird trade, predation of young by Plate-billed Mountain-toucan (Andigena laminirostris), are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Toucan Barbet (Semnornis ramphastinus) [XC239005]
by Niels Krabbe from Pichincha: Tandayapa ridge 3 km SSW Tandayapa, Ecuador (duet)
Toucan Barbet (Semnornis ramphastinus) [XC175058]
by Niels Poul Dreyer from Bellavista, Pichincha, Ecuador (call)
Nest
An unlined cavity in a tree hollow.
Subspecies
Related to Prong-billed Barbet (Semnornis frantzii), with which it shares distinctive bill morphology, but relationship not very close. Subspecies poorly defined.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
caucae Gyldenstolpe, 1941 - Western Colombia on both slopes of western Andes, from Valle to Nariņo.
ramphastinus (Jardine, 1855) - Andes of north-western and west-central Ecuador.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet