The Red-fronted tinkerbird's distribution is split into two
isolated populations - one in north east Africa, the other largely restricted to
the south-eastern coastal area in South Africa, preferring riverine forest and
valley bushveld. It mainly forages in the upper canopy of trees, feeding on
small fruits, especially mistletoes, occasionally hawking insects. Both sexes
excavate the nest, which is usually a hole dug into the underside of a branch,
or an upright dead tree trunk. The 2-4 chicks are cared for by both parents, who
feed them insects and fruit regularly.
Distribution and habitat
It's distribution is split into two
isolated populations - one in north-east Africa and the other largely restricted
to South Africa. Within southern Africa it occurs from the southern-most tip of
Mozambique along the coast to the Eastern Cape. It generally prefers
gallery forest along rivers or
streams, valley bushveld, Acacia woodland and
evergreen forest.
Its mainly forages in the upper
canopy of trees, feeding on small fruit such as mistletoes and occasionally
hawking insects. The following food items have been recorded in its diet:
Both sexes excavate the nest, which is usually a hole in the
underside of a branch or in an upright dead tree trunk.
Egg-laying season is from October-December in KwaZulu-Natal and from
August-November in the Eastern Cape.
The 2-4 chicks are cared for by both parents, who feed them insects and
fruit regularly.
Threats
Not threatened, in fact well-represented in protected
areas.
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.
