Green tinkerbird facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Green tinkerbird
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Piciformes
Family:	Lybiidae
Genus:	Pogoniulus
Species:	P. simplex
Binomial name
Pogoniulus simplex (Fischer, GA & Reichenow, 1884)
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The green tinkerbird (Pogoniulus simplex) is a small, dull-green bird. It belongs to the Lybiidae family, which are also known as African barbets.

You can find this bird in several African countries. These include Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

What is a Green Tinkerbird?

The green tinkerbird is a tiny bird. It is part of a group of birds called tinkerbirds. These birds are known for their unique calls, which sound a bit like a hammer tapping.

Some scientists have debated where this bird fits in the bird family tree. It was often placed in the Pogoniulus group. However, some experts think it should be in a different group called Viridibucco. This is because the green tinkerbird looks different from other tinkerbirds. It also seems to have a very special diet.

Where Do They Live?

Green tinkerbirds live in parts of eastern and southern Africa. They prefer coastal dry forests and thickets. These are places with lots of trees and dense bushes.

For a long time, people thought the green tinkerbird was only found in certain areas. But recent discoveries have shown they live in more places than we first thought!

A Bird Lost and Found!

For many years, the green tinkerbird was thought to be very rare in southern Africa. In fact, for a long time, only one bird skin from 1958 was known from Mozambique. This skin was collected by a tireless explorer named Rui Quadros. He found it near a village called Chicomo. This was a truly amazing discovery at the time! The closest known green tinkerbirds were about 750 kilometers away.

Scientists wondered if there were more green tinkerbirds in southern Africa. It was a bit of a mystery. Some even thought the original location might have been wrong.

The Rediscovery

Recently, this little bird was "rediscovered" in southern Africa! This happened thanks to new field trips and looking at old records. Scientists found new information about the bird in Mozambique. This included areas like the Gorongosa Massif.

A naturalist named K.L. Tinley had actually seen these birds often between 1969 and 1972. He saw them while climbing a path through the forest in Gorongosa. This new information helped confirm that the green tinkerbird was indeed living in these areas.

Why Location Matters

Knowing exactly where animals live is super important for scientists. It helps them protect these animals and their homes. For the green tinkerbird, there were some mix-ups about its exact location in the past.

For example, maps sometimes showed the wrong village of Chicomo. This caused confusion for many years. Different bird atlases and books copied these mistakes. It made it harder to know where the green tinkerbird truly lived.

Correcting these location errors is a big deal. It helps scientists understand the bird's habitat better. It also helps conservation efforts to keep these unique birds safe for the future.