Honeybird

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iHoneybirds
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Indicatoridae
Genus: Prodotiscus
Sundevall, 1850
Species

Prodotiscus regulus
Prodotiscus zambesiae
Prodotiscus insignis

Honeybirds are birds in the genus Prodotiscus of the honeyguide family. They are confined to sub-Saharan Africa.

They are all drab coloured birds, with grey or grey-green upperparts, and grey to whitish-grey underparts. They are among the smallest members of the honeyguide family. They have slender bills compared to other members of the family.

Unlike other honeyguides they do not feed on beeswax.

They parasitise nests of cisticolas, sunbirds and other dome-nesting bird species.

There are three species:

  • Brown-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus regulus
  • Green-backed Honeybird Prodotsicus zambesiae
  • Cassin's Honeybird Prodotiscus insignis
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