Brown-backed Honeybird
Prodotiscus regulus
Small and incredibly nondescript honeyguide. Note the small, sharp bill and the white outer tail feathers. Found in a variety of woodlands and savannas. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous. Calls are a long, dry trill and an explosive “tzit” given in flight. Very similar to Green-backed Honeyguide, but has a brown rather than olive-green back. Separated from other honeyguides by its small bill.
Identification
The brown-backed honeybird (Prodotiscus regulus), also known as Wahlberg's honeybird, Wahlberg's honeyguide and sharp-billed honeyguide, is a species of bird in the family Indicatoridae. This bird is named after the Swedish naturalist Johan August Wahlberg.
Taxonomy
Genus: Prodotiscus; Family: Indicatoridae; Order: Piciformes.
- Scientific name
- Prodotiscus regulus
- Authority
- Sundevall, 1850
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Indicatoridae
- Genus
- Prodotiscus
Range and habitat
It is found in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: rising.
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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White and rufous flycatcher of open country in central Argentina. Rufous back and streaked underparts distinctive except for small area of range overlap with Salinas Monjita. Breeds in the Monte Desert and Pampas, disperses north during nonbreeding season. Prefers open country, often perching on small shrubs or low sticks near the ground.
New Britain Boobook
Ninox odiosa
A small brown owl confined to New Britain with a dark brown head, prominent white eyebrows and throat patch, and orange-yellow eyes. Broad brown chest band contrasts with pale mottled whitish underparts. Upperparts and wings dark chocolate brown with scattered white markings. Occurs in forest and in modified patches and clearings, in the lowlands and foothills. Distinctive: the only small brown owl on New Britain. Song is a distinctive, incessant series of “whoo” notes, rising in volume toward the end.
Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk
Accipiter rufiventris
Medium-sized sparrowhawk with a dark gray back and plain orangeish underparts. In flight, the wings and tail show strong barring. Immature is brown on the back and has rufous bars and streaking below. Found in forest and exotic tree plantations, mainly in the mountains, though down to sea level in South Africa. Often hunts in open areas far from the forest. Calls are insistent, repeated whistles. Immature separated from immature Ovambo Sparrowhawk by its yellow eye.
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