Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus Scientific name definitions

c. 18 cm; 42–54 g. Both sexes olive and green , with distinct pale spots on breast ; dark tail has dark-tipped white outer feathers; outermost rectrices very short  . Distinguished from similar I. variegatus by greener upperparts, less white underparts , with throat to breast  more spotted, less scaly. Immature more barred and streaked, less spotted below, with whiter tail. Race <em>stictithorax</em> has paler and greener crown; more streaky on face, more olive and yellow on underparts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Primary and dense secondary forest, forest clearings, riverine forest, and much-overgrown farms and plantations; mainly at middle to lower levels, below 15 m. Ranges up to 2130 m locally.

Sedentary.

Beeswax; also feeds on insects, such as larval moths and butterflies, ants, beetles and termites, and spiders; probably also fruits; young eat foods of host. Attracted to beeswax, searches abandoned bees’ nests. Forages for insects mainly in canopy , but comes down to undergrowth for beeswax. Follows humans in forest.

Little known; song a trill, slightly faster than that of I. variegatus, “brrrrrr” for up to 3 seconds; chattering calls; also wing sounds in flight display.

Gonadal and egg data suggest long season, probably Aug–Mar in Liberia; recorded in Dec in Sierra Leone. Male in singing territory much of year, some territories maintained by same or replacement male for up to 5 years; sometimes winnowing flight display. Hosts largely unknown, suspected to include social barbets of genus Gymnobucco, and Buff-spotted Woodpecker (Campethera nivosa), latter similar in pattern to present species; Brown-eared Woodpecker (Campethera caroli) reported as host in Sierra Leone; in Gabon, was immediately attracted by playback of call of Yellow-crested Woodpecker (Dendropicos xantholophus). No other breeding information available.

Not globally threatened. Rare and sporadic in Gambia, and few records in Senegal; not uncommon in parts of Sierra Leone; not uncommon in Liberia. Known to occur in Abuko Nature Reserve, Gambia, in Korup National Park , Cameroon, and in La Lopé National Park, Gabon. As a rather forest-dependent bird, it should be monitored, because forest habitat suffering clearance and fragmentation. Information on breeding and hosts essential for any conservation efforts.