Least Honeyguide

About the Least Honeyguide

The least honeyguide (Indicator exilis) is a small species of bird in the family Indicatoridae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa. The least honeyguide (Indicator exilis) is a small member of the family Indicatoridae. The plumage of the adult least honeyguide is an olive brown, with dark grey colouration on its underside and face. Pale spots are visible above the bill as well as on the tail when in flight. A narrow white line from the front of the eye to near the nostril can be seen on adult birds and a malar stripe can be seen stretching from the mandible to the birds ear-coverts.

A small bird, the least honey guide measures about 14 cm and weighs anywhere between 12 and 23 g. Males of the species tend to be noticeably larger in size than the females. The subspecies of I. exilis have often been confused for other closely related species. There are four known subspecies of I. exilis : I.e. exilis, I.e.poensis, I.e. cerophagus and I.e. pachyrhychus. These subspecies were initially thought to be the same as each other, however it came to researchers attention that they were in-fact separate. Even now there is some inconsistencies about the distribution... Wikipedia →