Honeyguides: Indicatoridae - Physical Characteristics, Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Malaysian Honeyguide (indicator Archipelagicus): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, HONEYGUIDES AND PEOPLE, CONSERVATION STATUS

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MALAYSIAN HONEYGUIDE (Indicator archipelagicus): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
LYRE-TAILED HONEYGUIDE (Melichneutes robustus): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Honeyguides are found in the temperate (mild) and tropical parts of Africa south of the Sahara. In addition, two species are found along the southern foothills of the Himalayas and in Southeast Asia.

Honeyguides live in dense primary forests, secondary forests, gallery forests in semiarid country, open woodlands and scrublands that include a mix of broadleaved trees, shrubs, and grassland. Generally, darker-colored species tend to live in broadleaved forests, while paler ones live in drier woodlands. They live from sea level to near the top of trees in mountainous areas.

Some species of honeyguides guide humans to honey sources.

No species are currently listed as Threatened by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Three species, the Malaysian honeyguide, yellow-rumped honeyguide, and dwarf honeyguide, are listed as Near Threatened, in danger of becoming threatened. Most species in Africa and Asia are threatened by deforestation.

Additional Topics

Honeyguides: Indicatoridae - Physical Characteristics

Honeyguides are fairly small tropical birds that are related to woodpeckers and barbets. Their most visible features are the dark stripe on the cheeks (on some species) and the white on the outer tail feathers (on all species). They have drab-colored plumage (feathers) of olive-greens, grays, browns, black, and white, with some signs of yellow, depending on the species. Males and females look alik…

Honeyguides: Indicatoridae - Behavior And Reproduction

The behavior of honeyguides makes them one of the most interesting birds to watch, especially the way they eat beeswax and actually lead other animals to wax sources. They are also aggressive birds in that they harass other birds and mob around wax sources. They are solitary birds most of the time, although when foraging for food, dozens of honeyguides may show up at a wax source. Many species wil…

Honeyguides: Indicatoridae - Malaysian Honeyguide (indicator Archipelagicus): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Malaysian honeyguides have brownish gray plumage with small, bright yellow shoulder patches, dark olive-brown upperparts, a light gray breast, and red eyes. They have a brown pointed bill, white under parts, and black legs and feet. Females do not have the yellow shoulder patch. Adults are about 2.5 inches (16 centimeters) long and weigh between 0.8 and 1.4 ounces (23.0 a…

Honeyguides: Indicatoridae - Lyre-tailed Honeyguide (melichneutes Robustus): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Dull-colored lyre-tailed honeyguides have a long, lyre-shaped tail (U-shaped), and two middle pairs of retrices (RET-rihs-uhs) paired flight feathers of the tail, which extend from the tail edges) that are curved outward at distal ends (away from the point of attachment), while the outermost retrices are narrow and short. The birds also have a white undersurface about the…

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