| Honeyguide | |
|---|---|
| |
| Greater honeyguide and brown-backed honeybird | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Suborder: | Pici |
| Infraorder: | Picides |
| Family: | Indicatoridae Swainson, 1837 |
| Genera | |
Honeyguides (family Indicatoridae) are a family of birds in the order Piciformes. They are also known as indicator birds, or honey birds, although the latter term is also used more narrowly to refer to species of the genus Prodotiscus. They have an Old World tropical distribution, with the greatest number of species in Africa and two in Asia. These birds are best known for their interaction with humans. Honeyguides are noted and named for one or two species that will deliberately lead humans (but, contrary to popular claims, most likely not honey badgers[1]) directly to bee colonies, so that they can feast on the grubs and beeswax that are left behind.
- ^ van der Wal, J. E. M.; et al. (2023). "Do honey badgers and greater honeyguide birds cooperate to access bees' nests? Ecological evidence and honey-hunter accounts". Journal of Zoology. 1 (a) – via Zoological Society of London.