A photo of a Red-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus pusillus)
Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus pusillus

The red-fronted tinkerbird, (Pogoniulus pusillus) is a small African barbet. Barbets are near-passerine birds with bristles around the base of the bill. They have a world-wide tropical distribution. The red-fronted tinkerbird is a widespread and frequently common resident breeder in eastern South Africa, with a separate population from southern Sudan and Ethiopia south to central and eastern Tanzania. It is sometimes considered conspecific with its northern counterpart, the yellow-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus. The red-fronted tinkerbird is associated with juniper forest and scrub. It nests in a tree hole and lays two or three eggs. It eats berries and fruit, particularly mistletoe, but also takes insects as it forages in deep cover. The red-fronted tinkerbird is 9–10.5 cm in length. It is a plump bird, with a short neck, large head, and short tail. The adult has black upper parts heavily streaked with yellow and white, and a golden wing patch. Its head has a strong black and white pattern, with a red forecrown spot. Its underparts and rump are lemon yellow. Sexes are similar in appearance, but young birds lack the red forehead. This species is distinguished from the yellow-fronted tinkerbird by the colour of the forehead spot, the golden wing patch, and its overall darker appearance. It is often confused with the red-fronted barbet, but it is significantly smaller than that species, has a black moustache and a less robust bill, and lacks a broad yellow superciliary stripe. At about 100 repetitions per minute, the red-fronted tinkerbird's call is a fast tink-tink-tink-tink, very similar to that of the yellow-fronted tinkerbird. Many barbets perch prominently, but unlike their larger relatives, the smaller tinkerbirds sing from cover and are more frequently heard than seen.
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Red-fronted Tinkerbirds on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A photo of a Red-fronted Tinkerbird photographed in Shelly Point Hotel, Spa & Country Club South Africa
🐾
Sharon Bateson
Thursday 16 Mar 2023 - 1:01pm
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Reuben Vb
Sunday 26 Feb 2023 - 7:38pm
South Africa
A photo of a Red-fronted Tinkerbird photographed in Shelly Point Hotel, Spa & Country Club South Africa
🐾
Sharon Bateson
Sunday 12 Feb 2023 - 11:13am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Murray Keeton
Friday 27 Jan 2023 - 7:15pm
South Africa
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