Barbets can be small to medium sized and are similar to woodpeckers.
They have short legs and paired toes that are directed forward and backwards, which is similar in their near relatives, the toucans and woodpeckers. The name barbet comes from the French word barbu meaning bearded. Barbets are found in the tropical regions of the world, but do not live in Australia. These are stocky birds with strong colors and patterns, and they have large stout bills with obvious bristles. Being almost exclusively arboreal, they feed mainly on fruit and berries, but also take insects.