Indicatoridae
Sign in to saveHoneyguides (family Indicatoridae) are a family of 16 species of birds in the order Piciformes. They are also known as indicator birds, or honey birds, although the latter term is also used more narrowly to refer to species of the genus Prodotiscus. They have an Old World tropical distribution, with the greatest number of species in Africa and two in Asia. These birds are best known for their interaction with humans. Honeyguides are noted and named from one or two species that will deliberately lead humans directly to bee colonies, so that they can feast on the grubs and beeswax that are left
AI overview
Honeyguides (family Indicatoridae) are a small group of 16 bird species found in tropical regions of Africa and Asia, best known for their remarkable ability to lead humans to bee colonies. These birds benefit from this partnership by eating the grubs and beeswax left behind after humans harvest the honey, making them uniquely cooperative with people compared to most wild birds.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
FAMILY
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderPiciformes
- FamilyIndicatoridae
via GBIF · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Piciformes
- Image
- Wahlberg's Honeyguide (Prodotiscus regulus).jpg
Show 5 more facts
- P105
- family
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy
- Description
- Behaviour
- Guiding
- Breeding
- See also
- References
- External links
Honeyguides (family Indicatoridae) are a family of 16 species of birds in the order Piciformes. They are also known as indicator birds, or honey birds, although the latter term is also used more narrowly to refer to species of the genus Prodotiscus. They have an Old World tropical distribution, with the greatest number of species in Africa and two in Asia. These birds are best known for their interaction with humans. Honeyguides are noted and named from one or two species that will deliberately lead humans directly to bee colonies, so that they can feast on the grubs and beeswax that are left behind. Interaction between honeyguides and honey badgers has also been reported.
==Taxonomy== The Indicatoridae were noted for their barbet-like structure and brood-parasitic behaviour and morphologically considered unique among the non-passerines in having nine primaries. The phylogenetic relationship between the honeyguides and the eight other families that make up the order Piciformes is shown in the cladogram below. The number of species in each family is taken from the list maintained by Frank Gill, Pamela C. Rasmussen and David Donsker on behalf of the International Ornithological Committee (IOC). {{Clade| style=font-size:100%;line-height:100% |label1=Piciformes |1= }}