Least Honeyguide
NameLeast Honeyguide
Common NameLeast Honeyguide
Scientific NameIndicator exilis
FamilyIndicatoridae
Wingspan (cm)19
Length (cm)13
Weight (g)15
Plumage DetailsGenerally dull olive-brown to grey-brown on the upperparts, with a paler, sometimes yellowish-washed, underside. The wings may show some darker streaking. A key feature is the white outer tail feathers, which are visible when the tail is fanned.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations include a series of high-pitched, rapid 'tsee-tsee-tsee' notes or a trilling 'trrr-trrr-trrr' sound, often given from within dense foliage.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across sub-Saharan Africa, from West Africa (e.g., Sierra Leone, Liberia) through Central Africa (e.g., Cameroon, Gabon, Congo) to East Africa (e.g., Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania), primarily in lowland and montane forests.
Identifying Featuressmall size, dull olive-brown plumage, white outer tail feathers, short, stout bill
Description
The Least Honeyguide is a small, rather dull-colored bird found in the forests of sub-Saharan Africa. It is known for its unique diet, including beeswax, and its brood parasitic breeding strategy, laying eggs in the nests of other bird species.
