This barbet lives in woodlands and savannas of southern Africa. Its crest and red, yellow, and black markings stand out, and both sexes dig nest cavities.
It has a crown of feathers and red, yellow, and black markings on the face and breast. The extent of red differs in females and young birds from that in adult males.
Both sexes dig nest cavities in dead branches and defend the nest. They eat fruit and insects.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.