Lyre-tailed Honeyguide
Melichneutes robustus
Lyre-tailed Honeyguide (Melichneutes robustus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Africa.
The Lyre-tailed Honeyguide (Melichneutes robustus) is a member of the Indicatoridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 54.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Indicatoridae Honeyguides
- Genus Melichneutes
- Species robustus
Where it lives
Sierra Leone and Guinea to southwestern Ghana, southeastern Nigeria and Cameroon to western Uganda and eastern DR Congo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 54.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Indicatoridae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lyre-tailed Honeyguide is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Lyre-tailed Honeyguide is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Lyre-tailed Honeyguide (Melichneutes robustus) is a member of the Indicatoridae family, within the order Piciformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone and Guinea to sw Ghana, se Nigeria and Cameroon to w Uganda and e DR Congo.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 54.2 g, with a wing length of about 9.2 cm and a tail of around 5.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide?
The Lyre-tailed Honeyguide is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 54.2 g.
Where does the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide live?
The Lyre-tailed Honeyguide is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone and Guinea to sw Ghana, se Nigeria and Cameroon to w Uganda and e DR Congo, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide belong to?
The Lyre-tailed Honeyguide (Melichneutes robustus) belongs to the Indicatoridae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide eat?
The Lyre-tailed Honeyguide is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide migrate?
The Lyre-tailed Honeyguide is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide make?
1 real field recording of the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide's range?
The Lyre-tailed Honeyguide has a mapped global range of about 2.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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