Yellow-fronted tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Photo by Ian White (Flickr)

Common name:
yellow-fronted tinkerbird (en); barbadinho-de-testa-amarela (pt); barbion à front jaune (fr); barbudito frentigualdo (es); gelbstirn-bartvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Piciformes
Family Capitonidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to southern Sudan and Ethiopia and south to northern Namibia and north-eastern South Africa. They are mostly absent from the Congo river basin.

Size:
These birds are 11-12 cm long and weigh 11-17 g.

Habitat:
The yellow-fronted tinkerbird is mostly found in broad-leaved woodlands and savannas, especially miombo Brachystegia, but also in moist tropical forests, scrublands, pastures and along rivers and streams. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
They mainly eat small berries and fruits, namely mistletoe berries and figs, but also some beetles and other insects.

Breeding:
Yellow-fronted tinkerbirds breed all year round. Both sexes excavate the nest, a hole dug into a dead branch or stump, where the female lays 2-4 white eggs. The eggs are incubated by both sexes for about 12 days. The chicks are cared for by both sexes and fledge about 21 days after hatching. Each pair can raise 3-4 broods per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is reported to be widespread and common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.