Pallid Honeyguide

Indicator meliphilus

Small and nondescript honeyguide. Note the short but chunky bill and the white patches on the sides of the tail. Found along forest edge, in forest, and in thick woodland, where it is uncommon and inconspicuous. The main call is a slowly repeated “twee-ya.” Very similar to Least and Lesser Honeyguides, but has a smaller bill and a paler head that lacks a dark facial stripe. Similar to Wahlberg’s and Green-backed Honeyguides, but has a thicker bill.

Taxonomy

The species is very closely related to Willcocks's honeyguide, and the two species are very similar in size, and this species will even respond to recordings of the Willcocks's honeyguide's voice. Another species, Indicator narokensis has been described from the border of Kenya and Tanzania, this appears to been described from a juvenile pallid honeyeater and is not accepted as a valid species.

Scientific name
Indicator meliphilus
Authority
(Oberholser, 1905)
Order
Piciformes
Family
Indicatoridae
Genus
Indicator

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

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