Prodotiscus regulus
The Brown-backed Honeybird (Prodotiscus regulus) is a small, unobtrusive avian species endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, typically measuring 12-13 cm in length and weighing a mere 10-15 grams. Its plumage is generally drab, characterized by an olive-brown to grey-brown back and crown, contrasting with whitish underparts. Key field marks for identification include its small size, slender, fine bill, and particularly the distinctive white outer tail feathers that become visible during flight, sett...
This honeybird inhabits open woodlands, savannas, acacia scrub, and miombo woodlands, often found in areas with a good supply of host species. It occurs at elevations ranging from sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters.
Primarily consumes insects (caterpillars, beetles, flies) gleaned from vegetation or caught in flight, occasionally supplemented by beeswax and bee larvae extracted from abandoned nests.
The Brown-backed Honeybird is a characteristically inconspicuous and solitary bird, often detected more by its soft, subtle calls than by sight. It employs an active foraging strategy, gleaning insects such as caterpillars, beetles, and flies directly from foliage or performing quick sallies to c...
The Brown-backed Honeybird boasts a wide distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, forming a broad, discontinuous band. Its range extends from West Africa (Senegal, Gambia) eastward through the Sudanian and Sahelian zones to Ethiopia and Somalia, then southwards through East Africa to Angola, Zambi...
Least Concern
- This subtle bird is an obligate brood parasite, never building its own nest or raising its young; it relies entirely on other bird species. - Its parasitic chick often hatches with a specialized hook on its bill, used to dispatch host eggs or young shortly after hatching. - Unlike its larger co...