Yellow-fronted tinkerbird
- Pogoniulus chrysoconus
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Trend: stable
General Information
The yellow-fronted tinkerbird (Pogoniulus chrysoconus) is a small bird in the family Lybiidae formerly known as yellow-fronted tinker barbet.
Description
The yellow-fronted tinkerbird is plump, with a short neck, large head, and short tail. The adult has black upperparts heavily streaked with yellow and white. Its head has a strong black and white pattern, with a yellow forecrown spot. The underparts and rump are lemon yellow. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but young birds have a differentiating dark crown that lacks the distinct yellow spot.
Ecology and Behaviour
At about 100 repetitions per minute, the yellow-fronted tinkerbird’s call is a fast tink-tink-tink-tink. Many barbets perch prominently, but, unlike their larger relatives, the smaller tinkerbirds sing from cover and are more frequently heard than seen.
Diet
The yellow-fronted tinkerbird eats insects and fruit. Mistletoe fruits (Tapinanthus and Viscum spp.) are swallowed whole. The sticky seeds are regurgitated and wiped off on nearby branches. Across their distribution range, yellow-fronted tinkerbirds are the most important disperser of mistletoes.
Reproduction
The yellow-fronted tinkerbird nests in cavities excavated in dead limbs of trees, some 2 to 5 m above the ground. A clutch of 2 to 3 matt white eggs is laid on a base of wood chips at the bottom of the nesting chamber. The nestlings call persistently, and are reared on fruit and insects by both parents. Nests usually do not survive a season and maybe usurped by larger species of barbet.
Conservation
It is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as, ” Least Concern “.
Distribution and Habitat
The yellow-fronted tinkerbird is a widespread and frequently common resident breeder in much of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It is associated with mesic, open to closed broadleaved or mixed woodlands and scrub. It is found in riparian vegetation but occurs only sparsely in dry savanna and teak woodlands.
References
Share:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Piciformes
- Family: Lybiidae
- Genus: Pogoniulus
