Pogoniulus leucomystax
The Moustached Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus leucomystax) is a diminutive and vibrant member of the African barbet family, Lybiidae, known for its distinctive appearance and vocalizations. Measuring approximately 10-12 cm (4-4.7 inches) in length and weighing a mere 10-15 grams, it sports brilliant grass-green upperparts and clean white underparts, a stark contrast that aids in identification. Its most notable field mark, which gives it its common name, is a prominent white supercilium that extends ...
Primarily inhabits montane evergreen forests, forest edges, and secondary growth, often at elevations between 900 and 2,400 meters (3,000-8,000 feet) above sea level. It can also be found in cultivated areas with scattered trees.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of small fruits, with a particular fondness for mistletoe berries, supplemented by a significant intake of insects gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Moustached Tinkerbirds are largely diurnal, spending their days actively foraging, their presence often revealed more by their persistent calls than by sight. They typically roost alone in tree cavities. Their primary foraging strategy involves gleaning fruit, especially various mistletoe berries...
The Moustached Tinkerbird is endemic to the montane regions of East Africa, primarily distributed across the Albertine Rift and associated highlands. Its breeding range extends from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (especially Ituri and Kivu regions) east through Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and ...
Least Concern
- The Moustached Tinkerbird's call is so distinctive and persistent that it's often described as sounding like a tiny smith hammering on an anvil, giving it the 'tinkerbird' name. - Despite its small size, it's an expert at excavating its own nest cavities in soft, decaying wood, a trait shared w...