Honeyguide

Honeyguides
: Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Piciformes : Indicatoridae
Genera
Indicator Melichneutes Prodotiscus

Honeyguides (family Indicatoridae) are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They have an Old World tropical distribution, with the greatest number of species in Africa and a few in Asia.

These dull coloured birds, related to the barbets, are insect-eaters, often feeding on bees and wasps, together with their honey and wax. Their English and scientific names both refer to the habit of some species of leading humans or suitable large mammals, such as the ratel or "honey badger," to bees' nests. When the larger species breaks into the nest, the birds will take their share too.

Honeyguides are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of various other birds; barbets are a frequent choice.

Classification

Indicatoridae belongs to the order Piciformes as shown here.

• Order Piciformes
  • Family Picidae, (woodpeckers, piculets, and wrynecks)
  • Family Capitonidae, (barbets)
  • Family Ramphastidae, (toucans)
  • Family Indicatoridae, (honeyguides)
  • Family Galbulidae, (jacamars)
  • Family Bucconidae, (puffbirds etc)

The last two families are sometimes separated as the order Galbuliformes.

Seventeen species in three genera compose the Indicatoridae:

• Family Indicatoridae
  • Genus Indicator
    • Spotted Honeyguide , Indicator maculatus
    • Scaly-throated Honeyguide , Indicator variegatus
    • Greater Honeyguide, Indicator indicator
    • Malaysian Honeyguide , Indicator archipelagicus
    • Lesser Honeyguide , Indicator minor
    • Thick-billed Honeyguide , Indicator conirostris
    • Willcock's Honeyguide , Indicator willcocksi
    • Least Honeyguide , Indicator exilis
    • Dwarf Honeyguide , Indicator pumilio
    • Pallid Honeyguide , Indicator meliphilus
    • Yellow-rumped Honeyguide , Indicator xanthonotus
  • Genus Melichneutes
    • Lyre-tailed Honeyguide , Melichneutes robustus
    • Yellow-footed Honeyguide , Melignomon eisentrauti
    • Zenker's Honeyguide , Melignomon zenkeri
  • Genus Prodotiscus
    • Cassin's Honeyguide , Prodotiscus insignis
    • Green-backed Honeyguide , Prodotiscus zambesiae
    • Wahlberg's Honeyguide , Prodotiscus regulus