DIET:  Mainly a fruit eating bird, but they occasionally feed on insects (especially nestlings).  Examples of trees they feed off of include acacia, baobabs, figs, and various fruit trees found in gardens (papayas, mangoes, bananas, peppers, and avocados).  They especially prefer the fruit from fig trees.  It is commonly observed that barbets are wasteful eaters.  They often pluck and reject many fruits that otherwise seem edible.  They thrash their heads from side to side trying to cleanse themselves of the fruit remaining on their bill.  Most of the fruit ends up on the ground rather than being eaten.