Brown-backed Honeybird

The Brown-backed Honeybird, also known as Wahlberg's Honeybird, Wahlberg's Honeyguide, or the Sharp-billed Honeyguide, is a modestly plumaged species belonging to the family Indicatoridae. This avian creature bears the scientific name Prodotiscus regulus and was first described by Sundevall in the year 1850. It carries the legacy of the Swedish naturalist Johan August Wahlberg in its nomenclature.

Identification Tips

Observers should note the bird's unassuming brown back, which provides excellent camouflage in its natural habitat. The sharp bill is a distinctive feature, aiding in the identification of this species among its relatives.

Habitat

The Brown-backed Honeybird is known to frequent a variety of woodland and forest habitats, where it can blend seamlessly with the surrounding foliage.

Distribution

This species boasts an extensive range across the African continent, with sightings confirmed in nations such as Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The form peasei, hailing from southern Ethiopia, is recognized as a subspecies, P. r. subsp. regulus.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Brown-backed Honeybird as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.