Family: Indicatoridae (honeyguides)
Life
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Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned
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Dinosauria
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Coelurosauria > Maniraptora > Aves
(birds) > Order: Piciformes
Species indigenous to southern Africa
Indicator
indicator (Greater honeyguide) The Greater honeyguide occurs from Senegal through the Sahel to Ethiopia, extending south to many areas of southern Africa, where
it lives in a wide variety of habitats. It mainly eats bees' products, and
is famous for its tendency to lead humans to bees nests. It is a brood
parasite, laying in a wide variety of bird nests. The female lays its egg
while the hosts is out, destroying any existing eggs already in the nest. The eggs are laid in series
of 4-7, each in a different nest, laying about 21 eggs in the whole
breeding season. The chicks stays in the nest for roughly 38 days, after
which they are fed by the host for 7-30, usually 7-10 days after leaving. |
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Indicator
meliphilus (Pallid honeyguide, Eastern honeyguide) |
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Indicator
minor (Lesser honeyguide) The Lesser honeyguide lives in
sub-Saharan Africa, absent for the dense forests and arid areas, but
otherwise occurring in a wide variety of habitats. It feeds on a wide range
of insects, as well as a Honeybees (Apis mellifera) and the honey
they produce. It is a brood parasite, laying mainly in barbets nests, laying
about 18-20 eggs in the whole breeding season. Soon after the chick hatches
it viciously kills the host birds chicks, with extraordinary strength. |
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Indicator
variegatus (Scaly-throated honeyguide) |
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Prodotiscus
regulus (Brown-backed honeybird, Sharp-billed honeyguide) |
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Prodotiscus
zambesiae (Green-backed honeybird, Slender-billed honeyguide) |
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