Moustached tinkerbird

Moustached tinkerbird
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Piciformes
Family:	Lybiidae
Genus:	Pogoniulus
Species:	P. leucomystax
Binomial name
Pogoniulus leucomystax (Sharpe, 1892)

Taxonomy

The moustached tinkerbird (Pogoniulus leucomystax) is a species of bird in the large Piciformes order in the Lybiidae family (African barbets).^[2] Older litterature often split the moustached tinkerbird and its close relative, the green tinkerbird, (Pogoniulus simplex) from the rest of Pogoniulus into a separate now-defunct genus, Viridibucco (Oberholser, 1905) The split is argued in part due to the similarities found in the two specie's plumage pattern and specialized diet. In the early 20th century, the two were once considered conspecific. ^[3] Some also speculate that the moustached tinkerbird, the green tinkerbird and the The western tinkerbird (Pogoniulus coryphaea) are allospecies^[4]

Description

The moustached tinkerbird is olive-green with a yellow rump and yellow-banded wings. The white slash across the bird's face is its most distinctive feature.^[5] They are small birds who weigh on average 11 grammes.^[6]

Behavior

Vocalization

Passerbys more often detect the moustached tinkerbird by its distinctive call rather than by sight. The bird cyclically discharges a series of "teks", pauses, and resumes a new series of high pitched calls. The number of notes in a series dictates the song's pace. In some records, the moustached tinkerbird discharges a rapid series of 5-6 notes in between breaks. Faster reprises contain 8-10 notes per series. Slow songs typically contain 3-4 notes per series or less.^[5]

Diet

The moustached tinkerbird is a frugivorous specialist of mistletoe in the Loranthaceae and Viscaceae families, although it readily preys on insects. When feeding on mistletoe fruits, it has been seen removing the indigest exocarps of some fruits before swallowing the small berries whole. Within a few minutes following ingestion, the bird regurgitates viscin-covered mistletoe seeds. The sticky substance lands onto neighboring branches often near the source plant. Mistletoe seeds germinate in the 1-2 following days. The moustached tinkerbird is an important close range disseminator of the mistletoe species it consumes.

Most other frugivorous birds deliberately leave out mistletoe berries from their diet. The moustached tinkerbird is the often sole user of the resource, thus, reducing competition. Although, many other species of the Pogoniulus genus, such as Pogoniulus chrysoconus and Pogoniulus bilineatus,  are documented to have a comparable affinity for mistletoe species.^[7]

Reproduction

The moustached tinkerbird is hole-nesting species.^[8] Parents dig out the nest cavity in dead trees.^[9] Nest entrance averages 2cm in diameter. The entrance's small size protects the vulnerable young from mammalian predators. Parents raise two broods per breeding season with an average of 1-2 eggs per brood.^[8] Females typically lay sometime between September and November. Early layers sometimes attempt a second clutch in December once the chicks fledge.^[9]

During the breeding season, parents feed chicks insects and mistletoe berries. Chicks regurgitate mistletoe seeds and parents typically carry them away keeping the space clean. Often, dry seeds gather on the rim of the nest-hole in conspicuous rings.^[7]

Habitat and Distribution

The moustached tinkerbird's range covers Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia where it is resident.^[2] It inhabits high-altitude evergreen forests^[7] occurring in 450 to 2600 meters elevation.^[2] They are most common in seconAs a specialist species, it relies almost entirely on the berries to sustain itself. Suitable habitats must be home to 4-6 different mistletoe species to efficiently provide the moustached tinkerbird mistletoe fruit year-round.^[9]

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