Howdy, friends.  This week we continue our exploration of the barbets, although there was so little to be found about this week’s subject that I might need to switch things up or start combining species.  This week’s bird is the southern red-fronted tinkerbird.  It is now recognized as a separate species from its northern cousin, so it gets this week’s header to itself.  

This tinkerbird lives in woodlands, savanna and evergreen forest.  It mostly eats fruit and berries, including mistletoe.  It also eats insects it finds in deeper parts of the forest.  Its range covers eastern South Africa and southern Mozambique.  Male and female birds look the same, juveniles lack a red spot on top of the head.  

This bird has a unique tink-tink-tink call, repeated up to 100 times per minute.  Unlike other barbets, which perch prominently in trees, the tinkerbird tends to be more circumspect and is more often heard than seen.  

The red fronted tinkerbird as a whole is rated as “of least concern” by the IUCN, as the northern and southern varieties appear to be grouped into one entry and between the two of them have an extremely large range.  Have a good weekend, everyone.  Take care of yourselves and others. 

Links: https://tinyurl.com/2zfjjpb4, https://tinyurl.com/5n8kwswa, https://tinyurl.com/4zrspvdc, https://tinyurl.com/4ynhaxs6, https://ebird.org/species/reftin4, https://tinyurl.com/59zt2bkc, https://tinyurl.com/4bsdrwvx, https://tinyurl.com/3a4rvdtf