African Barbet Information … African Barbet Species Index … African Barbet Photo Gallery
The Moustached Green-tinkerbirds (Pogoniulus leucomystax) are found in the following African countries: Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
This species is endangered in some areas of its range — for example the loss of highland woods has resulted in the near-extinction of the Moustached Green Tinkerbird in Kenya.
Description
The Moustached Green-tinkerbirds are plump-looking birds with large heads. Their heavy bill is fringed with bristles.
Diet / Feeding
These mostly solitary birds eat a variety of insects and fruit, including figs. They will also visit plantations and take cultivated fruit and vegetables. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed pits regurgitated later.
As the other barbets, They are believed to be important agents in seed dispersal.
As well as taking fruit, African barbets also take arthropod prey, gleaned from the branches and trunks of trees. A wide range of insects are taken, including ants, cicadas, dragonflies, crickets, locusts, beetles, moths and mantids. Scorpions and centipedes are also taken, and a few species will take small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs and geckos.
Nesting / Breeding
They usually nest in holes bored into dead trees, branches or stumps. The hen usually lays between 2 to 4 eggs that are incubated for 13–15 days. Nesting duties are shared by both parents. Tinkerbirds may place sticky mistletoe seeds around the entrances of their nests, probably to deter predators.
Species Research by Sibylle Johnson
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