The yellow-rumped tinkerbird is a bird species in the family Lybiidae, which is native to the moist tropical and subtropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Found widely across moist tropical and subtropical zones from East to southern Africa, extending into parts of central Africa. It favors forest edges, riverine and gallery forests, coastal thickets, and well-wooded gardens. The species often stays in the mid to upper canopy, especially around fruiting trees and mistletoe clumps. It tolerates secondary growth and disturbed habitats, provided there is sufficient woody cover.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2400 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This tiny barbet is more often heard than seen, broadcasting a steady 'tink-tink-tink' for minutes on end from dense foliage. It plays an important role in dispersing mistletoe by swallowing the berries and wiping the sticky seeds onto branches. Both sexes look alike and often stay high in the canopy, making visual sightings tricky. Despite its secretive habits, it thrives in a variety of wooded habitats, including gardens.
Temperament
secretive yet vocal and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks while foraging. Pairs maintain small territories centered on fruiting trees. They excavate a nest cavity in soft or dead wood, where both sexes participate in incubation and feeding the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, monotonous series of metallic 'tink' notes repeated at a steady tempo, often for long bouts. The call can be ventriloquial, making the bird difficult to locate within dense foliage.
