Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Known from a single specimen collected in 1964, there is no information upon which range size, population size or trend can be assessed hence the species is classified as Data Deficient.
Population justification
This species is only known from its type specimen and as such no population estimates are available.
Trend justification
Data on overall population size and trends is lacking.
Pogoniulus makawai is judged to be a rare, relict species which remains known only from the type-specimen, collected in 1964 at Mayau in north-western Zambia (Benson and Irwin 1965), despite repeated attempts to relocate the taxon (Dowsett and Dowsett-Lemaire 1993, V. Head in litt. 2009). Another possibility is that the type specimen was collected in riverine forest along the Mayau River, in which case the species may occupy a more restricted habitat (Collar and Fishpool 2006), although the specimen may have in fact been collected near the road (R.J. Dowsett in litt. 2016). Alternatively the type specimen was a straggler from somewhat different habitats in adjacent Angola (Collar and Fishpool 2006). The congener Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pognolius bilineatus occurs at the type locality of makawai on the limit of its range. Therefore, it is possible that makawai replaces it to the west in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Collar and Fishpool 2006). Although it has been treated as an aberrant P. bilineatus by many authorities, the case for its validity as a distinct species has recently been argued again (Collar and Fishpool 2006). There is a need for intensive surveys in the area of the type-locality, and further north and west, covering any slight variations in the structure of Cryptosepalum forest caused by water or topographical features, and paying special attention to mistletoes.
It would seem to favour dense, evergreen Cryptosepalum thicket, dominated by C. pseudotaxus, and there are large areas of apparently suitable habitat in the relevant area of north-west Zambia and adjacent Angola. The voluminous bill of makawai suggests it may specialise on the berries of mistletoe as other tinkerbirds have been found to (Collar and Fishpool 2006).
The Cryptosepalum thickets are sparsely populated by people outside the West Lunga National Park and are difficult to clear for agriculture, so its habitat would appear not to be threatened, although fire is a potential risk as it has affected nearby areas.
Conservation Actions Underway
The most extensive areas of suitable habitat occur within Lukwakwa Game Management Area.
11 cm. Tiny, thick-billed barbet. Black head with white moustachial strip and white breast are diagnostic. Similar spp. Differs from Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird by lacking white stripe above eye and having a white, not grey breast. Has been considered possibly an aberrant form of Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird. Voice Unknown. Hints Known only from one specimen taken at Mayau, Zambia.
Text account compilers
Bird, J., Butchart, S., Shutes, S., Starkey, M., Symes, A., Westrip, J., Martin, R
Contributors
Head, V., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Dowsett, R.J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-chested Tinkerbird Pogoniulus makawai. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-chested-tinkerbird-pogoniulus-makawai on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.