Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Photo © by Peter Day
Umkhumbe Lodge, South Africa, 20 January 2019

Pogoniulus pusillus

Identification

9-10.5 cm. Short neck, large head, and short tail. Black upperparts heavily streaked with yellow and white, golden wing patch black and white pattern on head, with a red forecrown spot, yellow underparts and rump. Sexes are similar in appearance, but young birds lack the red forehead.

Distribution

Africa: Southern Mozambique to eastern South Africa

Taxonomy

Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird and Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird were formerly considered a single species with the name of Red-fronted Tinkerbird.

Subspecies

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Forest, woodland and scrub.

Behaviour

It makes its nest in a tree hole, and 2-3 eggs are laid.

Its diet includes berries and fruit, especially mistletoe, and insects.

References

1. Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. 2024. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2024. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2024. IOC World Bird List (v 14.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.14.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Southern_Red-fronted_Tinkerbird

External Links

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