home   about   search

biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Pogoniulus bilineatus (Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Golden-rumped tinker barbet) 

Swartblestinker [Afrikaans]; Geelstuit-ketellapper [Dutch]; Barbion à croupion jaune [French]; Goldbürzel-bartvogel [German]; Barbadinho-de-rabadilha-limão [Portuguese]

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) > Tetrapoda (four-legged vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota > Reptilia (reptiles) > Romeriida > Diapsida > Archosauromorpha > Archosauria > Dinosauria (dinosaurs) > Saurischia > Theropoda (bipedal predatory dinosaurs) > Coelurosauria > Maniraptora > Aves (birds) > Order: Piciformes > Family: Lybiidae

Pogoniulus bilineatus (Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Golden-rumped tinker barbet)  Pogoniulus bilineatus (Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Golden-rumped tinker barbet) 
Yellow-rumped tinkerbird. [photo Jeff Poklen ©] Yellow-rumped tinkerbird. [photo Jeff Poklen ©]

The Yellow-rumped tinkerbird occurs from Senegal east through the Sahel to Uganda, extending south to Angola and the eastern coast of southern Africa. It mainly eats fruit, with the remainder of its diet insects and nectar, foraging in the upper canopy of trees. Both sexes excavate the nest, which is a chamber in the underside of a dead branch. It lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes.

Distribution and habitat

Its distribution is centred on West Africa and the DRC, extending south to northern Angola, northern Zambia and the eastern coast of southern Africa. It generally prefers evergreen and moist lowland forest.

Distribution of Yellow-rumped tinkerbird in southern Africa, based on statistical smoothing of the records from first SA Bird Atlas Project (© Animal Demography unit, University of Cape Town; smoothing by Birgit Erni and Francesca Little). Colours range from dark blue (most common) through to yellow (least common). See here for the latest distribution from the SABAP2.  

Brood parasites

It has been recorded as host of the Scaly-throated honeyguide.

Food 

It mainly eats fruit, supplemented with insects and nectar, foraging in the upper tree canopy. The following food items have been recorded in its diet:

  • Plants
    • fruit
      • mistletoes
        • Tapinanthus
        • Erianthemum
        • Helixanthera
        • Viscum
      • Ficus (wild figs)
      • Trema orientalis (Pigeonwood)
      • Apodytes dimidiata (White-pear)
      • Bridelia micrantha (Mitzeerie)
      • Antidesma venosum (Tasel-berry)
      • Allophylus natalensis (Dune false-currant)
      • Scutia myrtina (Cat-thorn)
      • Grewia flavescens (Sandpaper raisin)
      • Stelitzia nicolai (Coastal sterlitzia)
    • nectar of Aloe marlothii (Mountain Aloe)
  • Insects

Breeding

  • Both sexes excavate the nest, which is a chamber in the underside of a dead branch.
  • Egg-laying season is from July-February in Zimbabwe and from October-March in South Africa.
  • It lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes.
  • Little is known about the development and care of the chicks.

Threats

Not threatened.

References

  • Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Roberts - Birds of southern Africa, VIIth ed. The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.