Swallow-tailed bee-eater
Swallow-tailed bee-eater | |
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M. hirundineus hirundineus Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa | |
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M. hirundineus chrysolaimus Senegal | |
Conservation status | |
![]() Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Coraciiformes |
Family: | Meropidae |
Genus: | Merops |
Species: | M. hirundineus |
Binomial name | |
Merops hirundineus Lichtenstein, AAH, 1793 | |
Synonyms | |
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Swallow-tailed_bee-eater_%28Merops_hirundineus_hirundineus%29_juvenile.jpg/220px-Swallow-tailed_bee-eater_%28Merops_hirundineus_hirundineus%29_juvenile.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Mhirundineuschrysolaimus112021.jpg/220px-Mhirundineuschrysolaimus112021.jpg)
The swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family, Meropidae.
Description
This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. Its colours and readily visible forked tail make it unmistakable. It is mainly green with a yellow throat, blue gorget and black eye stripe and beak. It can reach a length of 20–22 cm, including the long forked green or blue feathers. Sexes are alike.[2]
Distribution and habitat
It breeds in savannah woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It is partially migratory, moving in response to rainfall patterns. This is a species which prefers somewhat more wooded country than most bee-eaters.
Behaviour
This attractive bird is readily approached. Just as the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. The swallowtail has a preference for honeybees.[2]
These bee-eaters nest as pairs or in very small colonies in sandy banks, or similar flat ground. They make a relatively long tunnel in which the 2 to 4 spherical, white eggs are laid. They also feed and roost communally.[2]
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Merops hirundineus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22683702A92996665. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683702A92996665.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Fry, H.; Boesman, P.F.D. (2020). Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David; De Juana, Eduardo (eds.). "Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.stbeat1.01. S2CID 216191523. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Swallow-tailed bee-eater - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.
- v
- t
- e
- Little bee-eater
- Blue-cheeked bee-eater
- Asian green bee-eater
- African green bee-eater
- Arabian green bee-eater
- White-throated bee-eater
- Swallow-tailed bee-eater
- Blue-tailed bee-eater
- Black bee-eater
- Blue-headed bee-eater
- Blue-moustached bee-eater
- Rufous-crowned bee-eater
- Red-throated bee-eater
- White-fronted bee-eater
- Blue-breasted bee-eater
- Ethiopian bee-eater
- Cinnamon-chested bee-eater
- Black-headed bee-eater
- Somali bee-eater
- Böhm's bee-eater
- Blue-throated bee-eater
- Olive bee-eater
- Rainbow bee-eater
- European bee-eater
- Chestnut-headed bee-eater
- Rosy bee-eater
- Northern carmine bee-eater
- Southern carmine bee-eater
Category
Commons