Small to medium-sized, sturdy, stout-billed frugivores of forest, savanna and gardens. They are usually found alone of in pairs. They have strong hooked, notched bills. They eat fruit, but the also take insects from treetrunks. They are usually found alone or in pairs.
Larger species are mostly fruit- and nectar-eaters, while smaller species prefer insects.
They are monogamous and nests in a hole excavated in a branch or trunk. Most of the wood-chips fall to the ground and are removed later to avoid detection of the nest. Some of the wood chips are used to cover the bottom of the nest and for removing the unencapsulated droppings of the chicks from the nest. Egg shells are also removed from the nests. If availabele, they may use nest caveties of other specices and the crested barbet is th only species that occasionally also excavates a nest in earth banks or mounds.
They lay 3-5 white eggs, several subspecies breed co-operatively and incubation and care of young is done by both sexes. They are major targets of the brood-parasitic honeyguides.

Lybius = uncertain, bird mentioned by Aristotle
Trachyphonus = rough-voiced
Tricholaema = hairy throat

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