Yellow-tufted dwarf beardling

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Yellow-tufted dwarf beardling
Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Woodpecker birds (Piciformes)
Family : African bearded birds (Lybiidae)
Genre : Dwarf beards ( Pogoniulus )
Type : Yellow-tufted dwarf beardling
Scientific name
Pogoniulus bilineatus
( Sundervall , 1850)

The yellow-tufted dwarf beardling ( Pogoniulus bilineatus ), also known as the banded dwarf beardling , is a species from the African bearded bird family (Lybiidae). The species occurs in Africa on both sides of the equator and has the largest range of all dwarf beards. Together with the red rump bearded bird , it is the most common species of this genus. Several subspecies are distinguished for the yellow tufted dwarf beardling. The IUCN classifies the yellow tufted dwarf beardling as not endangered ( least concern ).

Appearance

The males of the nominate form reach a wing length between 5.4 and 6.0 centimeters. The tail length is 2.8 to 3.5 centimeters. The beak is between 2.8 and 3.5 centimeters long. Females have similar body measurements to males. As is characteristic of all dwarf beards, there is no noticeable sexual dimorphism .

Males and females are glossy black from forehead to back. There is a white line above and below the eye. The line below the eyes continues along the base of the beak and expands to the sides of the neck. The head sides are otherwise black. The rump is golden yellow, the upper tail-coverts are black. The control feathers are also black and have freshly moulted yellowish-white hems. The chin and throat are white to olive gray-white. The chest and sides of the body are gray olive. The belly is yellowish green, the flanks are matt olive gray. The under tail-coverts are yellow-white. The beak is black. The featherless skin around the eyes is gray, the eyes are brown and in some individuals also red. Legs and feet are green-gray to blue-gray.

Young birds are a little more dull than the adult birds. Their beak is still yellow to horn-colored. It darkens from the top with increasing age.

It can be confused with the yellow-throated dwarf bearded . This species differs from the yellow tufted dwarf beardling by its white throat and is slightly larger. The two types can be distinguished most clearly on the basis of their vocalizations. In the opinion of some ornithologists, the individual described as the Makawa bearded bird is also a yellow-tufted dwarf beardling, which only has an unusually different plumage.

Distribution area

The yellow tufted mustard occurs in Africa from Senegal and Gambia to the south of West Africa to the south of Nigeria . In the eastern direction of distribution, its distribution area extends over the south of Cameroon to the south of Sudan , Uganda and Kenya . From there in a southerly direction to the north of Angola , the north and east of Zambia as well as the east of South Africa and the south of Mozambique . It is also found on the island of Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea and on Zanzibar off the East African coast. Its height distribution ranges from forests of the lowlands to mountain forests. In West Africa it comes to altitudes of 1,800 meters, in East Africa to 3,000 meters and up to 600 meters in the Republic of South Africa.

Way of life

The yellow tufted dwarf beardling is a very adaptable species that is at home in different forest types. In West Africa it also colonizes grassland covered with trees and occurs, among other things, on coffee plantations and in gardens. Fruits represent the largest part of its food spectrum. In addition, it also eats insects and their larvae. He responded to the singing of a number of other beard birds, including yellow-spotted barbet , hairy-breasted barbet , mountain barbet , yellow-fronted tinkerbird and green tinkerbird . He defends his territory all year round. The size of the hunting grounds is variable; in the vicinity of Nairobi, an average hunting ground for a yellow tufted dwarf beardling is around four hectares.

The individuals also spend the night individually in tree hollows they have chopped themselves. They also breed in tree hollows and usually raise two broods in one reproductive period. However, they hack a new breeding cave every year. The breeding parasites include the dwarf honey indicator and probably also the scale honey indicator , which probably has to enlarge the entrance of the nesting cavity before it can lay its egg in the nest cavity of a yellow tufted bearded beard.

The clutch consists of two to five eggs. Both parent birds breed, the breeding season is around twelve days. Newly hatched nestlings are fed first with insects and later with fruits. The parent birds carry food to the nest box up to 19 times an hour. The potential enemies of nestlings and clutches include croissants . These are attacked by the parent birds when they approach the nesting cavity. The nestling period is 17 to 20 days.

supporting documents

literature

  • Lester L. Short and Jennifer FM Horne: Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides - Ramphastidae, Capitonidae and Indicatoridae. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2001, ISBN 0-19-854666-1 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Short et al., P. 162
  2. ↑ Short et al., P. 161
  3. ↑ Short et al., P. 160 and p. 161
  4. ↑ Short et al., P. 163
  5. ↑ Short et al., P. 164
  6. ↑ Short et al., P. 164
  7. ↑ Short et al., P. 165

Web link

Commons : Yellow tussock dwarf bearded ( Pogoniulus bilineatus )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files