Hadza foragers say hungry Honeyguides lead them to more honey

Hadza hunter-gatherers of northern Tanzania have developed a deep and mutually beneficial relationship with the Greater Honeyguide bird, which, as its name indicates, leads people to sources of wild honey. Yale anthropologist Brian Wood has studied in great detail the intricate, and often surprising, interactions between people and birds in a new study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior.

Hadza hunter-gatherers of northern Tanzania have developed a deep and mutually beneficial relationship with the Greater Honeyguide bird, which, as its name indicates, leads people to sources of wild honey. Yale anthropologist Brian Wood has studied in great detail the intricate, and often surprising, interactions between people and birds in a new study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior.

The Hadza follow the Honeyguide, which leads them to colonies of honeybees, where the foragers harvest rich honeycomb. The birds are very good at their jobs, according to Wood, who estimates the Honeyguides help foragers find five times more bee colonies than if they searched for them on their own. The colonies that the birds find also yielded more honey than bee colonies the foragers found on their own. Eight to 10 percent of the Hadza’s yearly diet is derived from following the Honeyguide’s lead.

But what do the birds get out of this relationship? Turns out, not too much. Many writers have suggested that people actively reward honeyguides, but Wood found that the opposite is true. 

“The Hadza hide, bury, or burn honeycomb that the birds might have eaten,” Wood said. “They told me that they do this to keep the birds hungry so that they will keep leading them to other bee colonies.”

This does not mean there is no payoff for the Honeyguide. Humans are much more adept than birds at opening bee nests and getting at the honeycomb. Although the Hadza hide and destroy honeycomb that the bird might have eaten, the birds usually find some scraps and leftovers to scavenge.

“The relationship between the Hadza and Honeyguide teaches us that cooperation can persist even when one party manipulates the other.” Wood said. “This relationship has probably evolved over thousands, if not millions, of years.”

Herman Pontzer of Hunter College, David Raichlen of the University of Arizona, and Frank Marlowe of the University of Cambridge contributed to the study.

[video:http://vimeo.com/72279587]

Sound Recordings

Hadza whistling for honeyguide.

Hadza whistling with honeyguide chatter.

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Media Contact

Bill Hathaway: william.hathaway@yale.edu, 203-432-1322