Indicator variegatus
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5%
The scaly-throated honeyguide (Indicator variegatus) is a species of bird in the family Indicatoridae. They have a mutualistic relationship with humans in which they attract beekeepers towards bees' nests and then feeding on the remains, especially larvae.
The scaly-throated honeyguide is closely related to the spotted honeyguide (Indicator maculatus), of which it shares part of its range. The two species are sympatric in South Sudan and Southwest Uganda. Scaly-throated honeyguides from Southern Somalia to Northeast Tanzania were previously regarded as a separate race (jubaensis). However, the species is currently regarded as monotypic, with no subspecies.
Mature scaly-throated honeyguides range between 18 and 19 centimetres (7.1 and 7.5 in) and typically weigh around 34 to 55 grams (0.075 to 0.121 lb), occasionally reaching up to 61 grams (0.134 lb). Males are larger than females, with recorded weights of males ranging from 50 to 56 grams (0.110 to 0.123 lb) and weights of females generally ranging from 36.6 to 55 grams (0.081 to 0.121 lb). However, male birds in Uganda have been reported to weigh as low as 31 grams (0.068 lb) and females, up to 60... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | uMkhuze Game Reserve | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Lake Nakuru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 3 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 5 | Arusha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 6 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 7 | Lake Mburo National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 8 | Kibale National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 9 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 10 | Masai Mara National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 11 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 12 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Scaly-throated Honeyguide sighting in Kruger National Park on a given day, based on 17 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 400th most-seen of the 464 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Scaly-throated Honeyguide in Kruger National Park on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Scaly-throated Honeyguide sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
12th of 12
Of the 12 parks where we can rate Scaly-throated Honeyguide sightings, Kruger National Park ranks 12th at under 5%. The best odds are in uMkhuze Game Reserve (South Africa, about 10%), Lake Nakuru National Park (Kenya, under 5%) and Garden Route National Park (South Africa, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Scaly-throated Honeyguide is recorded against all the birds logged in Kruger National Park (17 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
