Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus Scientific name definitions

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Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Yellow-rumped)

10–12 cm; 11–18·6 g (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), but fischeri 8–12·5 g, and leucolaimus 7·2–14 g (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). The epitome of a tinkerbird, with contrastingly marked face , strong bill, rather short tail . Both sexes of nominate race black above, with golden rump, golden-yellow in wings; white supercilia, white line across forehead and down to neck side, white throat; underparts pale olive-yellow, more olive laterally. Distinguished from similar P. subsulphureus by larger size, white throat, more golden rump, from very similar white-throated race chrysopygus of latter also more safely by voice. Immature duller, greener, less black than adults, with yellow base of bill. Races differ mainly in coloration of pale areas of plumage, forming two groups according to rump colour: jacksoni and fischeri golden-rumped like nominate, former smaller (wing of male 49–52 mm, versus 52–59 mm in nominate) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), greyer and less olive below, and paler generally, fischeri as nominate in size (wing of male 52–60 mm) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), with whiter throat, yellower rest of underparts, larger gold rump, and becoming clinally paler to N; other three races all yellower-rumped, <em>mfumbiri</em> large (wing 48–55 mm) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) and with buff on sides and flanks, <em>leucolaimus</em> small (wing of male 55–56·5 mm) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) and brighter yellow , with even less olive, and poensis paler yellow on rump and underparts and with whiter breast (wing of male 55–56·5 mm) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (White-chested)

11 cm. Tiny, thick-billed barbet. Black head with white moustachial stripe and white breast diagnostic. Differs from <em>P. bilineatus</em> (with which previously regarded as conspecific—see Taxonomy comments) principally by lacking white stripe above eye and having a white, not grey breast. However, detailed examination of the type (and only) specimen, the following 13 features distinguish them: (1) white supraorbital stripe lacking; (2) white line below ear-coverts only commences behind gape, not running below eye in continuous band from over bill; (3) yellow fringes to secondaries and wing-coverts paler and narrower; (4) chin black, flecked centrally with white (chin whitish in bilineatus); (5) throat and upper breast creamy white, fading to pale yellow on lower chest (throat to belly pale whitish-grey in bilineatus, belly with slight greenish tinge); (6) lower breast to belly lack greenish tinge; (7) central belly black (no such mark in bilineatus); (8) entire underparts below breast has pale blackish ‘shadow-barring’ (absent in bilineatus); (9) underside of bend of wing black, not white; (10) tibial feathering more suffused black; (11) bases of feathers on mantle and underparts pale (dark in bilineatus); (12) black bill whitish basally and from nostrils to halfway along cutting edges (all black in bilineatus); and (13) legs and feet markedly paler.

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Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Yellow-rumped)

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (White-chested)

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (White-chested)

NW Zambia.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Yellow-rumped)

Forested highlands and lowlands, especially at edges, about clearings, in forest clumps left over after clearing, in thickets, riverine forest, moist parts of drier woods, including Cryptosepalum and Marquesia (5 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), tree plantations (e.g. coffee) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), and gardens. Around Kakamega Forest, W Kenya, most abundant in mixed indigenous and primary forest fragments, but found in all forest types, including plantations of the exotic Bischoffia javanica (6 Munyekenye, F. B., E. M. Mwangi, and N. N. Gichuki (2008). Bird species richness and abundance in different forest types at Kakamega Forest, western Kenya. Ostrich 79(1):37–42. Close ). In coastal Kenya, shares forest habitat with P. simplex, more open wooded habitats with P. pusillus; in C & W Africa less often in dense forest than is smaller P. subsulphureus, but occurs with it and with P. atroflavus and P. scolopaceus; in Ghana, typically occurs in transition zone, in riparian and dry semi-evergreen forest or occasionally in farmbush, and usually separated from P. chrysoconus (latter in less forested habitats) and P. subsulphureus, although some slight overlap with both is known (7 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2014). The Birds of Ghana: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press, Liège, Belgium. Close ); in SW Nigeria, present species is more common in overgrown farmland and cacao plantations than P. subsulphureus (8 Green, A.A., Hall, P. and Leventis, A.P. (2007). Avifauna of Omo Forest Reserve, SW Nigeria. Malimbus 29(1): 16-30. Close ). On Bioko, is a highland species generally occurring above P. subsulphureus; elsewhere, may impinge on highland P. leucomystax and P. coryphaea (diet of present species appears less specialized than first-named) (9 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ). Occurs from sea-level to 1800 m in W Africa, to 2600 m in C Africa and on Bioko (where usually above 800–1000 m), to 3000 m in E Africa, 1770 m in Zambia (5 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), c. 1600 m in Zimbabwe and 600 m in South Africa.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (White-chested)

Only available evidence suggests that it favours dense, evergreen Cryptosepalum thicket, dominated by C. pseudotaxus, with large areas of apparently suitable habitat in the relevant area of NW Zambia and adjacent Angola.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Yellow-rumped)

Resident, and largely sedentary, but dispersal up to 20 km.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (White-chested)

None known, although it has been suggested that the unique type specimen was “a straggler ... from somewhat different habitats further west in near-adjacent Angola, a very little explored area, [or] the southern Democratic Republic of Congo, close to the border of which the type locality of makawai also lies” (2 Collar, N.J. and Fishpool, L.D.C. (2006). What is Pogoniulus makawai? Bull. Afr. Bird Club 13: 18–27. Close ).

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Yellow-rumped)

Fruits essential, including especially mistletoe berries (Loranthus, Tieghemia sulphurea, Viscum), also Ficus, and species of Allophyllus, Clausenia, Ekebergia, Lannea (7 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2014). The Birds of Ghana: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press, Liège, Belgium. Close ), Macaranga, Maesa, Ochna, Ocotea, Parkia (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), Polyscias, Prunus, Psychotria, Trema and others; insects also taken, including termites, ants, noctuid moths and other Lepidoptera, Homoptera, curculionid (Nematocera spp.) and galerucid (Hyperecantha spp.) beetles, among others. Discards epicarp of mistletoe berries as fruits eaten, cellulose layer is digested, pectin layer over seeds passes through digestive system and egested with seed; small berries swallowed, regurgitated in courtship feeding. Insects caught by gleaning and flycatching, even in exotic Acacia trees. Isolated fruiting trees may be defended by a single bird, while in Masai Mara, S Kenya, usually single individuals were seen attending c. 17% of mixed-species foraging flocks (10 Gordon, A. I. V., and N. M. Harrison (2010). Observations of mixed-species bird flocks at Kichwa Tembo Camp, Kenya. Ostrich. 81(3):259–264. Close ). May feed at same trees as P. leucomystax, but at different times (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (White-chested)

Nothing known; the voluminous bill of makawai suggests it may specialise on mistletoe berries, as other tinkerbirds are known to.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Yellow-rumped)

Usual song  paused popping, series of “pop” notes at c. 3 per second, in sets generally of 2–6, more in some situations, first and last sets with fewest notes; N birds of race fischeri substitute “pop-trill” for paused popping (and sound extremely similar to P. simplex) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), more S individuals of same race employ both songs; occasional nasal “honk”, lacking overtones, within popping song; also pure “honk” calls in series, especially at start of and after breeding, also so-called “frog” call “driii-driii-”, with burry “rrrrrk” perhaps a version of it; also “pop-op” calls in series, sharp “chip” notes, rattling “bdddddt” in interactions, common “zddddd” grating calls with elements at c. 90 per second, and begging “di-di-di-”. Mechanical signals include wing-fluttering, bill-tapping at or in cavity.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (White-chested)

Unknown; the report that the voice of makawai is “subtly different from Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird [P. bilineatus]” (11 Sinclair, I., and P. Ryan (2003). A Comprehensive Illustrated Field Guide: Birds of Africa South of the Sahara. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ) is erroneous.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Yellow-rumped)

Nov–Apr in W Africa (e.g. apparently Jan in Ghana, although vocal activity has been noted to be reduced in late Oct–Nov and Jan) (7 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2014). The Birds of Ghana: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press, Liège, Belgium. Close ); all year in Cameroon, Apr–Nov and Jan in Gabon, Congo and Zaire; May–Jun in Uganda; Jan–Mar and Aug in W Kenya, Mar–Jul and Sept–Jan in coastal Kenya and Tanzania, May–Aug and Nov–Feb (during and after rains) in C Kenya and EC Tanzania; Apr–May and Sept–Dec on Mafia I and Zanzibar; Oct–Jan in Angola to Zambia, but as early as Sept in Malawi (9 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), and eggs in Sept–Dec in South Africa; sometimes two broods in a season. Singer erects rump feathers, puffs throat, flicks tail with each note, turns head side to side in almost vertical posture; courtship feeding of up to 32 berries in 25 minutes, sometimes followed by copulation (e.g. three times in 25 minutes). Nest, excavated by both adults, 1–10 m up in dead tree, stump, post or dead branch (often underside) (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); entrance diameter 2–2·5 cm (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), cavity 2·5 cm into branch, 40–100 cm deep, nest-chamber 3·7 cm by 5 cm, lined with wood chips; territory c. 4 ha in Kenya. Clutch 2–5 white eggs (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), usually three, size 15–19·8 mm × 11·5–14·7 mm (1 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); incubation c. 12 days, by both adults; chicks fed insects at first, later also fruit, at rates of up to 19 feeds per hour; nestlings’ faecal material eaten at first by parents, later young present anal area to adult, which then carries away faecal sac, in one instance 12 sacs removed after 38 feeds in two-hour period; fledging at 17–20 days; few data on post-fledging period, but occurrence sometimes of second brood suggests rapid independence. Up to four young fledge; nests parasitized by Least (Indicator exilis) and Scaly-throated Honeyguides (I. variegatus), and also recorded by Pallid Honeyguide (I. meliphilus); one tinkerbird pair enlarged cavity entrance apparently to facilitate exit of large young honeyguide.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (White-chested)

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Yellow-rumped)

Not globally threatened. Form “makawai” officially considered Data Deficient. Widespread, and common throughout range; generally commonest tinkerbird wherever it occurs, although in Liberia far less numerous than P. subsulphureus. Adapts to various habitat changes, with a study in W Uganda finding high densities in logged and plantation forests, as well as primary areas (12 Sekercioglu, C. H. (2002). Effects of forestry practices on vegetation structure and bird community of Kibale National Park, Uganda. Biological Conservation 107(2):229–240. Close ), but in Malawi the species is considered to be suffering from the effects of forest clearance and is uncommon in those protected areas where it occurs (9 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ). Also declining in old-growth coastal dune forest in NE South Africa (13 Trimble, M. J., and R. J. van Aarde (2011). Decline of birds in a human modified coastal dune forest landscape in South Africa. PLoS ONE 6(1):e16176. Close ). Present in many protected areas, e.g. Dindéfello Nature Reserve (Senegal) (14 Dowsett, R. J., and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2005). Additions to the avifauna of Mali. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 12(2):119–124. Close ), Abuko Nature Reserve (Gambia), Haut Niger National Park (Guinea) (14 Dowsett, R. J., and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2005). Additions to the avifauna of Mali. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 12(2):119–124. Close ), Digya, Kyabobo and Kakum National Parks, Kogyae Wildlife Reserve, Afram Headwaters and Ofin Shelterbelt Forest Reserves (Ghana) (7 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2014). The Birds of Ghana: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press, Liège, Belgium. Close ), Omo Forest Reserve (Nigeria) (8 Green, A.A., Hall, P. and Leventis, A.P. (2007). Avifauna of Omo Forest Reserve, SW Nigeria. Malimbus 29(1): 16-30. Close ), Kibale National Park (Uganda) (12 Sekercioglu, C. H. (2002). Effects of forestry practices on vegetation structure and bird community of Kibale National Park, Uganda. Biological Conservation 107(2):229–240. Close ), Kakamega Nature Reserve (Kenya), Kruger National Park and Mkuzi Reserve (South Africa).

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (White-chested)

Not globally threatened. Currently considered to be Data Deficient, primarily due to questions over its taxonomic status, however it is also the case that the species is known solely from the type specimen (collected in Sept 1964), with open questions concerning in precisely what habitat type it was collected and whether the few subsequent searches since then have been appropriately focused (2 Collar, N.J. and Fishpool, L.D.C. (2006). What is Pogoniulus makawai? Bull. Afr. Bird Club 13: 18–27. Close ). Despite these surveys, the habitat around the type locality is by no means uniform and plainly has been modified since the 1960s, while efforts to rediscover the bird, although considerable, have not been exhaustive, since large areas of Cryptosepalum forest (in which it is believed the holotype was collected), extremely difficult habitat in which to work, have never been visited (2 Collar, N.J. and Fishpool, L.D.C. (2006). What is Pogoniulus makawai? Bull. Afr. Bird Club 13: 18–27. Close ). P. makawai is currently judged by BirdLife International to be a rare, relict species, known only the bird collected at Mayau in NW Zambia (15 Benson, C.W. and Irwin, M.P.S. (1965). A new species of tinker-barbet from Northern Rhodesia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 85(1): 5-9. Close ), but it is also possible that it was collected in riverine forest along the Mayau R, in which case makawai may occupy a more restricted habitat (2 Collar, N.J. and Fishpool, L.D.C. (2006). What is Pogoniulus makawai? Bull. Afr. Bird Club 13: 18–27. Close ), or was a straggler from somewhat different habitats in adjacent Angola (see Movements). P. bilineatus also occurs at the type locality of makawai, at the limit of its range, making it possible that makawai replaces it in Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo (2 Collar, N.J. and Fishpool, L.D.C. (2006). What is Pogoniulus makawai? Bull. Afr. Bird Club 13: 18–27. Close ). Although treated as an aberrant P. bilineatus by many authorities, the case for its validity as a distinct species has recently been argued comprehensively (2 Collar, N.J. and Fishpool, L.D.C. (2006). What is Pogoniulus makawai? Bull. Afr. Bird Club 13: 18–27. Close ). Intensive surveys at the type locality (and further N & W), which lies within an Important Bird Area, covering any slight variations in the structure of Cryptosepalum forest caused by water or topographical features, and paying special attention to mistletoes, are urgently required. Cryptosepalum thickets are sparsely populated outside West Lunga National Park and are difficult to clear for agriculture, so its habitat would appear not to be threatened, although fire is a potential risk as it has affected nearby areas. The most extensive areas of suitable habitat are in Lukwakwa Game Management Area.