Swallow-tailed bee-eater
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| M. hirundineus hirundineus Etosha National Park, Namibia | |
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| M. hirundineus chrysolaimus Senegal | |
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| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
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| Binomial name | |
| Template:Taxon infoTemplate:Taxon italics Lichtenstein, AAH, 1793
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The swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) is a species of bee-eater native to sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds predominantly on insects, especially bees and their relatives, which are caught in flight from an open perch. Its vivid colors and forked tail are distinctive.
Description
Like other bee-eaters, this 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. Swallow-tailed bee-eaters can reach a length of 20–22 cm, including the long forked green or blue feathers. Sexes are alike.[2]
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Swallow-tailed bee-eater in flight in Etosha National Park, Namibia
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
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- ^ Template:Cite iucn
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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.
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External links
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- Swallow-tailed bee-eater - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.
- Swallow-tailed bee-eater Structured guide to the species in southern Africa
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