At least, that’s how Claire Spottiswoode tells it. The zoologist from the University of Cambridge has spent the past eight years studying the species’s dark side in the wooded savannas of southern Africa. Minutes after entering the world, Greater Honeyguide chicks turn murderous, using the barbed ends of their beaks to slay their nest mates. But the victims aren’t the young honeyguides kin—they’re actually the offspring of the nest’s rightful owners, which now have the unfortunate task of raising a brutal brood parasite.
More recently, Spottiswoode has been focused on studying the kinder side of the honeyguide. As adults, the pink-billed birds live up to their name, leading local hunters to wild beehives stashed in the cavities of baobabs and other tall trees. The men then scale the trunks, smash the hives, and make off with the sticky riches, leaving the wax and the calorie-rich larvae within for their partners in crime. (The Greater Honeyguide is one of few avians that can eat and digest wax.) It’s what scientists call a mutualistic interaction, and for the Yao community in Mozambique, where Spottiswoode carried out her newest research, honey plays a vital role in their daily lives.
This unlikely business arrangement between wild birds and people has been chronicled in multiple regions around Africa as early as the 1500s, but it wasnt until Spottiswoodes time with the Yao that the most remarkable part of the relationship was uncovered: The birds and people can communicate. As Spottiswoode recently discovered, the Yao use a resounding brrr-hm—rolling their tongues like a Spaniard before punctuating it with a brassy “humph”—to let the honeyguides know when they’re ready to hunt.
In Spottiswoodes experiments, the call was effective in luring in honeyguides 66 percent of the time. And with a bird leading the way, the chances of finding a hive rocketed: Spottiswoode noted that 75 percent of the searches with guides were successful. This level of complex communication is unheard of in nature. In fact, it’s the only known example of targeted two-way signals between people and a free-living species. The next closest scenario might be an unproven partnership involving dolphins and fishing villages in Laguna, Brazil.
While most animals are wired to flee from human presence, the Greater Honeyguide embraces it. But how do the birds learn to work with people? Spottiswoode’s theory is that the behavior is innate. Because the chicks are reared by alternative species (hoopoes, kingfishers, scimitarbills, you name it), they can’t learn this highly unusual behavior from their parents. So, instead, the birds must inherit the knowledge, refining it to match their locale as they mature. In Tanzania, for example, the cue is a whistle; in Zambia, the sound of chopping wood draws them near, she says.
The role of the little bush bird is shrinking, however. As more villagers turn to farming and taming their own hives, they’re leaving the honeyguide to fend for itself. But for the Yao of Mozambique, the alliance remains strong. “ Why would we do anything else? Thats what they told me,” Spottiswoode says. The brrr-hm is part of their language, part of their very identity. They learned it from their fathers, and theyll teach it to their sons. After centuries of living alongside nature, the Yao know: In the savanna, you need every last friend you can get.
Honey hunting is not for the faint of heart. Beside the obvious hazard of being stung by an angry horde of bees, there are other dangers lurking in the bush; honey hunters must be wary of being trampled to death by buffalo and elephants, Spottiswoode says. Carrying heavy buckets of honey back to the village is no easy task either.
A wild hive offers a rich payoff for guide and hunter. The humans lay claim to the honey, while the birds dig into the larvae-filled comb. Greater Honeyguides are able to process beeswax, possibly thanks to a special combination of enzymes and microbes that live in their digestive tract. Other avians capable of digesting wax include berry-eating songbirds, such as swallows and warblers, and crustacean-loving seabirds, such as petrels and auklets.
The male Greater Honeyguide, or Indicator indicator, is marked by its black beard and striking yellow shoulder patches. Both males and females exhibit symbiotic behavior. Juveniles, meanwhile, look much different, with a honey-lathered chest and prominent eye ring. The contrast is so striking, in fact, that locals consider the young, reclusive honeyguides to be a completely separate species.
Spottiswoodes study on Yao-honeyguide interactions went beyond just basic observation. To measure the effectiveness of the brrr-hm call, she played the hunters signal on loop while cutting through Greater Honeyguide territory. She then did the same with two other sounds—one human-based and one animal-based—and found that the brrr-hm was by far the best at drawing out the birds. Spottiswoode tested the loudness of the call after it was transmitted through the environment and concluded that it wasnt a factor in attracting the species.
Blowing smoke into the hive helps calm the bees, making it easier (and less chaotic) to crack open the comb. Its a practice also used by Western beekeepers—except the Yao have to figure out how to do it up to 30 feet off the ground. This wooded habitat is not your typical African savanna, but the birds and the villagers have learned to thrive in it. “The trees are tall, and the bees are small,” Spottiswoode says to explain why the hunters rely so heavily on the birds.
The relationship between the Greater Honeyguide and indigenous African communities has been the subject of much scientific inquiry. One study out of northern Tanzania shows that up to 10 percent of the Hadza peoples diet can be credited to collaboration with honeyguides. This is despite the fact that some villagers end up burning the wax, leaving little to no reward for their ravenous scouts. Meanwhile, the Boran hunters of Kenya can interpret the birds flight pattern and calls to pinpoint the distance and direction of the hive.
The human-honeyguide alliance was first documented in the 1500s, but some experts believe it might stretch back to Homo erectus, which would put it at about 1.9 million years old. Today, the Yao villagers are keeping the tradition alive. Though brrr-hm is their preferred trigger, Spottiswoode says that the type of sound may be largely arbitrary. Its the meaning that matters.
The Yao hunters have unfettered access to the Niassa National Reserve, a protected area thats about the size of Denmark. The sanctuary is managed by the Mozambique government and Wildlife Conservation Society, and plays host to remarkable wilderness, including endemic mammals, ancient trees, and birds such as the African Pitta and Southern Banded Snake-eagle. Spottiswoode points to Niassa as a symbol of human-animal coexistence—which makes it all the more fitting that honeyguides and villagers forage together in its borders.
Like wine, honey tells its own local narrative: It draws its flavor from the land and the animals that make it to form a distinct terroir. The taste varies by nest and is wildly different from the honey you buy at the grocery story. The flavor is severe, Spottiswoode says, almost to the point where it stings your throat.
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Because larger honeyguides have a reputation for guiding honey-eating mammals to hives, they have been mentioned in folklore. They have appeared in numerous narratives and artistic creations. (“Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)”, 2002; Johnsgard, 1997).
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Greater honeyguides, another name for indicator indicators, are widely available across sub-Saharan Africa. A tiny, southwest corner of Africa made up of Namibia, Botswana, and a portion of South Africa is not included in their range. Of all the known species of honeyguides, greater honeyguides are the most widely dispersed. (“Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)”, 2002; Berruit, et al. , 1995; Johnsgard, 1997).
- Biogeographic Regions
- ethiopian
- native
Large open spaces such as savanna, shrubland, forest edge, riverbank, or orchard habitats are preferred by greater honeyguides. Greater honeyguides typically inhabit regions rich in insect and termite nests, among other food sources, and avian host species whose nests they parasitize. Although the habitats span an elevation range of nearly 3000 meters above sea level to sea level, this species is typically found below 2000 meters (“Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)”, 2002; Johnsgard, 1997).
- Habitat Regions
- tropical
- terrestrial
- Other Habitat Features
- agricultural
- riparian
-
- Range elevation
- 3000 (high) m
- 9842.52 (high) ft
-
- Average elevation
- below 2000 m
- ft
The largest member of the Indicatoridae family of birds, greater honeyguides typically measure 20 centimeters in length. Males are on average 48. 9 grams and females average 46. 8 grams. Male adults have almost white breasts, black throats, pale gray ear patches, and pink bills. Males’ wing coverts are adorned with a tiny patch of golden feathers that is noticeable when they are in flight. Like their male counterparts, females are uniformly grayish brown with white underparts; however, they lack cheek and throat patches and are more brown in color. With their characteristic plumage that is a unique combination of taupe, olive-brown, and yellow-gold, juveniles look very different from either parent.
This bird’s mostly white rump and tail coverts, which have brown shaft streaks along the edges, easily set it apart from other honeyguides. The development of adult plumage takes approximately eight months, with the male bill’s pink shading being the final adult characteristic to emerge. The outer retrices of the tail are white in both sexes, as in most honeyguides. (“Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)”, 2002; Berruit, et al. , 1995; Johnsgard, 1997; Spottiswoode and Colebrook-Robjent, 2007).
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- homoiothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- Sexual Dimorphism
- sexes alike
- sexes colored or patterned differently
-
- Range mass
- 46.8 to 48.9 g
- 1.65 to 1.72 oz
-
- Average length
- 20 cm
- 7.87 in
Males demonstrate for females by circling above them and using their wings to make drumming noises. The male approaches the courted female after landing close by, spreading his white-edged triceps, flapping his wings, and making a low, high-pitched call. Because people do not engage in any kind of parental care and do not form any associations after mating, the mating system is poorly defined. (“Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)”, 2002; Dean and MacDonald, 1981; Johnsgard, 1997).
Greater honeyguides breed between September and October. Females deposit their eggs in other species’ nest cavities after mating. The female deposits one egg in each nest and four to eight eggs during the breeding season. The female will puncture the eggs of the hosts after laying her egg in the nest to guarantee the survival of her offspring. Then, parasitized species hatch and raise the larger honeyguide pups as if they were their own. In order for their eggs to hatch with the brood of chicks they parasitize, females time their breeding cycles. Because the eggs take around 18 days to hatch, the surrogate mother will stop incubating the larger honeyguide eggs if she lays them too late because she will know they are not hers. Additionally, after its young hatch, the greater honeyguide uses its hooked, toothed bill to pierce other unhatched eggs or kill any chicks in the nest. Greater honeyguide chicks grow quickly if they are successful because they are frequently the only ones left and get all of the parents’ feeding attempts. After 30 to 40 days, the chicks fledge and are frequently cared for by their parents for a further 7 to 10 days. Juveniles reach reproductive maturity when they are 1 year old. (“Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)”, 2002; Johnsgard, 1997; Spottiswoode and Colebrook-Robjent, 2007).
-
- Breeding interval
- Greater honeyguides breed once yearly.
-
- Breeding season
- Greater honeyguides breed from September to October.
-
- Range eggs per season
- 4 to 8
-
- Average time to hatching
- 18 days
-
- Range fledging age
- 30 to 40 days
-
- Range time to independence
- 7 to 10 days
-
- Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
- 1 years
-
- Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
- 1 years
Because they are brood parasites, parents don’t spend much time with their own children. They might protect their parasitized broods from outside predators and from other parasitic broods. Mothers have been known to puncture other hosts’ eggs, and fathers have been known to divert host birds.
- Parental Investment
- no parental involvement
- altricial
- pre-fertilization
- provisioning
- protecting
- female
- pre-hatching/birth
- protecting
- male
- female
- protecting
Greater honeyguides have been reported to have a 12-year lifespan in the wild. No information is available for lifespan in captivity. (“Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)”, 2002).
-
- Typical lifespanStatus: captivity
- 12 (high) years
The name “Indicator indicator” refers to a diurnal, solitary species that shares a peculiar characteristic with one other species of honeyguide (Indicator variegatus). They lead more powerful species to insect hives that honeyguides are unable to reach on their own. These birds will call out and raise their tail feathers to draw the attention of people who can help, such as humans, baboons, or honey badgers (ratels). They guide other animals to concealed beehives in the hopes that they will break through the hive’s walls and reveal wax reserves and larvae that larger honeyguides can eat. Honeyguides are mainly solitary, but they will congregate in groups at a freshly opened beehive. (“Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)”, 2002; Dean and MacDonald, 1981; Johnsgard, 1997).
- Key Behaviors
- arboreal
- flies
- diurnal
- parasite
- motile
- sedentary
- solitary
Because they are parasites on their nests, greater honeyguides do not actively protect their own nesting areas. There have been instances of honeyguides protecting nests in which they have placed an egg in order to increase the likelihood of their chicks surviving and to fend off more nest parasites. Honeyguides congregate in groups at food sources, and they don’t appear to defend these resources. Data on territory size for this species is unknown.
Males call out vocally to entice females, and they typically do so from the same location each year. Some females have been seen imitating male calls from areas where males are also known to congregate. Males engage in both aerial and auditory displays during courtship behavior, swooping close to females and making a characteristic flying noise. In order to direct honey-gathering mammal species to bee hives, larger honeyguides also emit unique calls. By directing more powerful organisms to bee hives, birds are able to access the stores of wax and larvae. The white tails of greater honeyguides are used to lure their hosts out of their nests so that the females can lay their eggs inside. Greater honeyguids sense their surroundings through visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical cues, just like all other birds do. (“Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)”, 2002; Johnsgard, 1997).
- Communication Channels
- visual
- acoustic
- Perception Channels
- visual
- tactile
- acoustic
- chemical
Because of their unusual diet that primarily consists of wax, greater honeyguides need digestive enzymes to break down this normally indigestible food. They also consume insect wings from flying swarming colonies, as well as grubs and larvae from Hymonoptera hives. Greater honeyguides lead species of honey-gathering mammals to termite, bee, and other insect hives that are not accessible to birds alone. They will rarely eat bird eggs, but they will occasionally eat fruit. The primary food source for young greater honeyguides is fruit brought by their host parents. (“Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)”, 2002; Dean and MacDonald, 1981).
- Primary Diet
- carnivore
- insectivore
- Animal Foods
- eggs
- insects
There are no known predators of greater honeyguides.
Greater honeyguides have close relationships with a number of species of mammals that consume honey, but mostly with honey badgers (Mellivora capensis). These massive, clawed mammals will follow honeyguides to hidden insect hives so they can crack them open and eat the insects. Then, honeyguides might be able to access the previously unavailable wax and larvae supply.
- Ecosystem Impact
- parasite
- Honey badgers (Mellivora capensis)
The relationship between the Greater Honeyguide and indigenous African communities has been the subject of much scientific inquiry. One study out of northern Tanzania shows that up to 10 percent of the Hadza peoples diet can be credited to collaboration with honeyguides. This is despite the fact that some villagers end up burning the wax, leaving little to no reward for their ravenous scouts. Meanwhile, the Boran hunters of Kenya can interpret the birds flight pattern and calls to pinpoint the distance and direction of the hive.
The role of the little bush bird is shrinking, however. The honeyguide is on its own as more villagers focus on farming and managing their own hives. But for the Yao of Mozambique, the alliance remains strong. That’s what they told me, so why would we do anything else? Spottiswoode asks. Their entire identity and language are infused with the brrr-hm. They will impart it to their sons, having learned it from their fathers. The Yao have lived alongside nature for centuries, so they know this: in the savanna, you need every last friend you can find.
The Niassa National Reserve is a protected area roughly the size of Denmark that is open to Yao hunters without any restrictions. The Mozambican government and Wildlife Conservation Society oversee the sanctuary, which is home to a remarkable wilderness with endemic mammals, ancient trees, and birds like the Southern Banded Snake-eagle and African Pitta. Niassa is a symbol of human-animal coexistence, according to Spottiswoode, which makes it more appropriate that villagers and honeyguides coexist and forage within its boundaries.
Similar to wine, honey has a unique flavor that is derived from the land and the animals that live there, creating a unique terroir. The flavor differs greatly from the honey you purchase at the grocery store and varies depending on the nest. According to Spottiswoode, the flavor is intense—almost to the point where it stings your throat.
A wild hive offers a rich payoff for guide and hunter. The humans lay claim to the honey, while the birds dig into the larvae-filled comb. Greater Honeyguides are able to process beeswax, possibly thanks to a special combination of enzymes and microbes that live in their digestive tract. Other avians capable of digesting wax include berry-eating songbirds, such as swallows and warblers, and crustacean-loving seabirds, such as petrels and auklets.
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