SOUTH AFRICAN BIRDS AND THEIR DIET 



patches in tree trunks or dead boughs are also pecked away by 

 woodpeckers in search of these destructive grubs. Woodpeckers 

 in South Africa do not damage sound trees in their search for 

 insects, or when making their nest holes. The long, barbed 

 tongue of the woodpecker is specially adapted for thrusting into 

 holes in trees made by wood-boring insects. 



Ground Woodpecker. 



(Geocolaptes olivaceus.) 



Diet. — Unlike other woodpeckers, this species lives almost 

 entirely on the ground, chiefly on rock and boulder-strewn 

 treeless hillsides. Their food consists entirely of insects which 

 they find on the ground and in crevices amongst the boulders 

 and stones. 



The Wryneck. 



[lynx ruficollis.) 



Diet. — Consists of insects which it captures in the crevices 

 in the bark of the trunks and branches of trees. The wryneck 

 has a long, retractile, sticky tongue to which insects adhere. 

 The bird does not peck wood, as is the case with woodpeckers. 

 It inhabits the trees of the bush-veld and open country generally, 

 and is seldom seen in thick forests. The wrynecks render good 

 service in plantations. 



The Honey Guide. 



(Genera — Indicator and Prodotiscus.) 



Diet. — The honey guides feed on bees, their larvae, and 

 honey. When this source of food fails they resort to insects 

 of various kinds. In consequence of the damage they do to the 

 useful bee, and their parasitic habits, these birds are of little 

 economic value to man. Their mission in the past was to 

 help to keep down the too rapid increase of the honey bee. 

 Their services are no longer needed for that purpose. 



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