Honeyguide Greenbul

SCI Name:  Baeopogon indicator
Protonym:  Criniger indicator J.Orn. 3 p.105
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Pycnonotidae / Baeopogon
Taxonomy Code:  hongre1
Type Locality:  Gabon.
Author:  Verreaux, J & Verreaux, E
Publish Year:  1855
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

BAEOPOGON
(Pycnonotidae; Ϯ Honeyguide Greenbul B. indicator) Gr. βαιος baios  small, little; πωγων pōgōn, πωγωνος pōgōnos  beard; "94. Hemixus indicator Cassin   ...   Wir können Cassin's Ansicht, dass die beiden zuletzt aufgeführten Arten mit den indischen Hemixus-Arten, wie H. ictericus (Strickl.) und H. flavulus Hodgs. generisch zu vereinigen seien, nicht theilen, sondern glauben vielmehr, dass beide wohl begründete Ansprüche auf eine mindestens subgenerische Trennung haben.  Besonders gilt dieses von der letzteren Art, welche der breite, dicke, schwach gezähnelte und mit nur dünnen und kurzen Bartborsten besetzte Schnabel, der kurze Schwanz, die kurze gedrungene Fuss- und Tarsenbildung hinlänglich als Baeopogon indicato (von βαιος, schwach und πωγων, Bart) zum Typus einer eigenen Gruppe stempeln." (Heine 1860); "Baeopogon Heine, 1860, Journ. f. Orn., 8, p. 139.  Type, by original designation, Criniger indicator Verreaux." (Rand in Peters, 1960, IX, p. 259). 

INDICATOR
(Indicatoridae; Ϯ Greater Honeyguide I. indicator) L. indicator, indicatoris  guide, one that points out  < indicare  to show  < index, indicis  sign, informer  < in  among; dicere  to tell (cf. specific name Cuculus indicator Sparrman, 1777); "The Dutch settlers thereabouts have given this bird the name of Honiguyzer, or Honey-guide, from its quality of discovering wild honey to travellers  ...  Not only the Dutch and Hottentots, but likewise a species of quadruped named Ratel (probably a new species of Badger), are frequently conducted to wild bee-hives by this bird, which, as it were, pilots them to the very spot. The honey being its favourite food, its own interest prompts it to be instrumental in robbing the hive, as some scraps are commonly left for its support" (Sparrman in Stephens 1815);  "INDICATOR. HONEY-GUIDE ...  THE Honey-guides form a very peculiar genus ...  the feathers are short, hard, and pressed close to the body: the skin is thick, and the fibres so close that it is difficult to pierce it even with a pin, an admirable provision of nature to guard these birds against the stings of bees, as it forms an almost impenetrable coat of mail. Sparrman first described the Honey-guide, which he placed in the genus Cuculus, to which it is only related in having the toes placed two and two.   ...   SPARRMAN'S HONEY-GUIDE. (Indicator Sparrmanii.)   ...   GREAT HONEY-GUIDE. (Indicator major.)   ...   LITTLE HONEY-GUIDE. (Indicator minor.)" (Stephens 1815); "Indicator Stephens, in Shaw's Gen. Zool., 9, pt. 1, 1815, p. 131. Type, by tautonymy, Indicator Sparrmanii Stephens = Cuculus indicator Sparrman." (Peters 1948, VI, 65).  The Greater Honeyguide is well known for leading mammals (especially the Ratel and man) to bees’ nests, enabling the stronger mammal to break open the nests and benefit from the honey, whilst the honeyguide eats the grubs, bees, and wax. Local superstition demands that some token honey is left for the honeyguide, otherwise it will next lead the searcher to stumble upon a hidden leopard or venomous snake.
Synon. Melignostes, Melignothes, Meliphagus, Melipodagus, Morocus, Prodotes, Pseudofringilla, Pseudospiza.

indicator
L. indicator, indicatoris  guide, one that points out  < indicare  to show  < index, indicis  sign, informer  < in  among; dicere  to tell.
● “Greenish above, greyish below, which with white tail make it look like large honeyguide” (Keith et al. (ed.) 1992) (Baeopogon).

SUBSPECIES

Honeyguide Greenbul (leucurus)
SCI Name: Baeopogon indicator leucurus
leucurum / leucurus
Gr. λευκουρος leukouros  white-tailed  < λευκος leukos  white; -ουρος -ouros  -tailed  < ουρα oura  tail.
● ex “Aguila coliblanca” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 10 (Buteo).
● ex “Alcon blanco” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 36 (Elanus).
● ex “Comaltecatl” of Hernandez 1651 (syn. Himantopus mexicanus).
● ex “Mellivora cauda alba” of Edwards 1751, and “Polytmus surinamensis” of Brisson 1760 (subsp. Threnetes niger).

Honeyguide Greenbul (indicator)
SCI Name: Baeopogon indicator indicator
INDICATOR
(Indicatoridae; Ϯ Greater Honeyguide I. indicator) L. indicator, indicatoris  guide, one that points out  < indicare  to show  < index, indicis  sign, informer  < in  among; dicere  to tell (cf. specific name Cuculus indicator Sparrman, 1777); "The Dutch settlers thereabouts have given this bird the name of Honiguyzer, or Honey-guide, from its quality of discovering wild honey to travellers  ...  Not only the Dutch and Hottentots, but likewise a species of quadruped named Ratel (probably a new species of Badger), are frequently conducted to wild bee-hives by this bird, which, as it were, pilots them to the very spot. The honey being its favourite food, its own interest prompts it to be instrumental in robbing the hive, as some scraps are commonly left for its support" (Sparrman in Stephens 1815);  "INDICATOR. HONEY-GUIDE ...  THE Honey-guides form a very peculiar genus ...  the feathers are short, hard, and pressed close to the body: the skin is thick, and the fibres so close that it is difficult to pierce it even with a pin, an admirable provision of nature to guard these birds against the stings of bees, as it forms an almost impenetrable coat of mail. Sparrman first described the Honey-guide, which he placed in the genus Cuculus, to which it is only related in having the toes placed two and two.   ...   SPARRMAN'S HONEY-GUIDE. (Indicator Sparrmanii.)   ...   GREAT HONEY-GUIDE. (Indicator major.)   ...   LITTLE HONEY-GUIDE. (Indicator minor.)" (Stephens 1815); "Indicator Stephens, in Shaw's Gen. Zool., 9, pt. 1, 1815, p. 131. Type, by tautonymy, Indicator Sparrmanii Stephens = Cuculus indicator Sparrman." (Peters 1948, VI, 65).  The Greater Honeyguide is well known for leading mammals (especially the Ratel and man) to bees’ nests, enabling the stronger mammal to break open the nests and benefit from the honey, whilst the honeyguide eats the grubs, bees, and wax. Local superstition demands that some token honey is left for the honeyguide, otherwise it will next lead the searcher to stumble upon a hidden leopard or venomous snake.
Synon. Melignostes, Melignothes, Meliphagus, Melipodagus, Morocus, Prodotes, Pseudofringilla, Pseudospiza.