Barbets are small- to medium-sized arboreal birds. They are known for their brightly colored feathers and their distinctively shaped bills. In popular language, some synonyms for barbets include "fruit-eating birds," "short-tailed birds," and "bearded birds." Other more technical synonyms used in ornithology include "capitonids" and "parapatrics." Depending on the region, barbets may also be known by different names. In Africa, for example, they are often called "toucanets," while in South America, they are referred to as "quetzals." Regardless of their name, barbets are fascinating birds that have captured the attention of bird enthusiasts around the world.