Kingdom Animalia Genus Pogoniulus Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Lybiidae Scientific name Pogoniulus chrysoconus Higher classification Tinkerbird Order Piciformes | |
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Similar Tinkerbird, Bird, Yellow‑rumped tinkerbird, Red‑fronted tinkerbird, Lybiidae | ||
Yellow fronted tinkerbird
The yellow-fronted tinkerbird (Pogoniulus chrysoconus) is a small African barbet formerly known as yellow-fronted tinker barbet. Barbets are near passerine birds with bristles around the base of the bill and a world-wide tropical distribution.
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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 approximately 11 cm (4.3 in) in length. It is plump, with a short neck, large head, and short tail. The adult has black upperparts heavlly 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.
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.
Tinkerbirds eat mistletoe fruits (Tapinanthus spp.), 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.