Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird
NameSouthern Red-fronted Tinkerbird
Common NameSouthern Red-fronted Tinkerbird
Scientific NamePogoniulus pusillus
FamilyLybiidae
Wingspan (cm)16.5
Length (cm)10
Weight (g)11.5
Plumage DetailsGreenish upperparts, pale greyish-white underparts. The head is strikingly marked with a bright red forehead patch, black crown and eye-stripe, and white supercilium and malar stripe. A prominent yellow patch is visible on the bend of the wing.
Vocalization / CallA characteristic, monotonous, and repetitive 'tink-tink-tink' or 'pop-pop-pop' call, often likened to a small hammer striking an anvil or a distant bell.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest, urban
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in eastern and southern Africa, from southern Somalia and Kenya south through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, and eastern South Africa. Also extends west into parts of Botswana, Namibia, and Angola.
Identifying Featuressmall size, red forehead patch, yellow wing patch, streaked head pattern, repetitive 'tink' call
Description
This tiny, colorful barbet is characterized by its bright red forehead, yellow wing patch, and striking black and white streaked head. It is often heard before it is seen, producing a distinctive, repetitive 'tink-tink-tink' call from the canopy of trees where it forages for fruit and insects.
