honey guide

honey guide or hon·ey·guide ExamplesWord Origin noun

any of several small, usually dull-colored birds of the family Indicatoridae, of Africa and southern Asia, certain species of which are noted for their habit of leading people or animals to nests of honeybees in order to feed on the honey, larvae, and wax of the nests after they have been broken open.

Origin of honey guide First recorded in 1780–90 Examples from the Web for honey guide Historical Examples of honey guide

All leaped to their feet, therefore, with the determination to follow the “honey-guide,” go where it would.

Mayne Reid

The Americans, who have not the African honey-guide, employ several well-known methods to track bees to their hives.

James Rennie

Two men who accompanied our guide called out every now and then to attract the attention of the honey-guide, but none appeared.

David Livingstone

We remained near a small hill, called Maundo, where we began to be frequently invited by the honey-guide (‘Cuculus indicator’).

David Livingstone

British Dictionary definitions for honey guide honey guide noun

any small bird of the family Indicatoridae, inhabiting tropical forests of Africa and Asia and feeding on beeswax, honey, and insects: order Piciformes (woodpeckers, etc)