Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
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Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird | ||||||||||||||
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Pogoniulus chrysoconus (Temminck, 1832) |
The Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus, is a small African barbet formerly known as Yellow-fronted Tinker Barbet. Barbets are near passerine birds bristles around the base of the bill and a world-wide tropical distribution.
The Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird is a widespread and frequently common resident breeder in much of Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. It is sometimes considered conspecific with its southern counterpart, the Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus pusillus.
Associated with dry open woodland and scrub, the Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird eats insects and fruit. The species nests in tree holes and lays two or three eggs.
The Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird is a barbet that is approximately 11 cm in length. A plump bird, the Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird has a short neck, large head, and short tail. The adult Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird has black upperparts heavlly streaked with yellow and white. Its head has a strong black and white pattern, with a yellow forecrown spot. The Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird's underparts and rump are lemon yellow.
Both sexes are similar in appearance; however, young birds have a differentiating dark crown that lacks the distinct yellow spot.
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.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Pogoniulus chrysoconus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1