Lesser Honeyguide

Afrikaans name: Kleinheuningwyser

Lesser Honeyguide

Photo © Steven Herbert

Indicator minor

The Lesser Honeyguide may be found in most areas of South Africa apart from the very driest. Beyond our borders it occurs over much of sub-Saharan Africa.

True to their name the Lesser Honeyguide does feed on bees. It will eat all stages of the bees life cycle as well as the wax. It also eats wasps, various other insects and spiders.

These birds are brood parasites. When its time to breed they lay their egg in an unsuspecting hosts nest. Birds such as barbets, kingfishers, bee-eaters, wood-hoopoes and many more raise the young of the Lesser Honeyguide.

They are found in a number of habitats including riverine forest, woodland, savanna and gardens.

References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 189

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 93

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 93

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 176

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 146

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 60

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 80

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 158

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 48

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 134

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 188

LBJs - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 46

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 272

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 272

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 237

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 301

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 316

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 413

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 410

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 262

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 276

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 75

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 181

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 53

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 49

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 128

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 59

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds