Pogoniulus subsulphureus
The Yellow-throated Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus subsulphureus) is a diminutive and vibrant member of the barbet family (Lybiidae), renowned for its distinctive calls that sound like a tiny hammer striking an anvil. Measuring a mere 9-11 cm (3.5-4.3 inches) in length and weighing 10-15 grams, it is among the smallest of all barbets. Its striking plumage features a bright yellow throat and malar stripe, a dark olive-green to blackish back, a white belly with olive flanks, and a prominent, often conc...
This species primarily inhabits the canopy and sub-canopy of tropical and subtropical lowland rainforests, gallery forests, and dense woodlands, typically found from sea level up to 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) in elevation.
The Yellow-throated Tinkerbird feeds primarily on small arthropods, such as insects and spiders, gleaned from leaves and bark, supplemented with a significant proportion of small fruits and berries.
Yellow-throated Tinkerbirds are diurnal and generally solitary or found in pairs, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly with other tinkerbirds or small insectivores. Their foraging strategy involves actively gleaning insects from foliage and bark in the mid-canopy, occasionall...
The Yellow-throated Tinkerbird is resident across a broad swath of sub-Saharan Africa, primarily within the equatorial forest belt. Its distribution spans from Sierra Leone and Guinea in West Africa, eastward through Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and Cameroon. It continues its range through the Central A...
Least Concern
- The 'tink' sound in its name accurately describes its repetitive, high-pitched call, which often helps identify it even when hidden in dense foliage. - It is one of the smallest members of the barbet family, rivaling hummingbirds in diminutive size among cavity-nesting birds. - Unlike some othe...