Bhutan (B), China (mainland) (B), India (B), Myanmar (B), Nepal (B), Pakistan (NB).
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2020) and decreasing.
Status NT
Forest loss, over-exploitation of bees' nests for honey by human populations are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Yellow-rumped Honeyguide (Indicator xanthonotus) [XC755923]
by Dave Guo from Kolbong Forest, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India (call, flight call)
Yellow-rumped Honeyguide (Indicator xanthonotus) [XC21579]
by Chubzang, bhutanbirdingtours.com from Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India (call)
Subspecies
Closest relatives are probably Malay Honeyguide (Indicator archipelagicus) and Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator). Probably derived from early Asian invasion of Indicator from Africa, and originating from same ancestral stock that gave rise to Malay Honeyguide (Indicator archipelagicus) and both have bright yellow in plumage and short outer rectrix, a combination of features shared only with African Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator). Birds from north-eastern Assam, Nagaland and Manipur to northern Myanmar, described as subspecies fulvus, now considered inseparable from nominate.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
radcliffi Hume, 1870 - North-eastern Pakistan (presumed extinct), and Himalayan slopes of north-western India, possibly to western Nepal.
xanthonotus Blyth, 1842 - Nepal east to north-eastern India, south-eastern Tibet and northern Myanmar.
fulvus Ripley, 1951 - Nepal to north-eastern India, south-eastern Tibet and northern Myanmar.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet