Biology:Swallow-tailed bee-eater

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Short description: Species of bird

Swallow-tailed bee-eater
File:152 Swallow-tailed bee-eater in Otjozondjupa Region Photo by Giles Laurent.jpg
M. hirundineus hirundineus
Etosha National Park, Namibia
M. hirundineus chrysolaimus
Senegal
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Meropidae
Genus: Merops
Species:
M. hirundineus
Binomial name
Merops hirundineus
Lichtenstein, AAH, 1793
Synonyms
  • Dicrocercus hirundineus
Juvenile M. h. hirundineus, Namibia
M. hirundineus chrysolaimus in The Gambia
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus hirundineus) in Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus hirundineus) in Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa

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]

  • Swallow-tailed bee-eater in flight in Etosha National Park, Namibia
    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

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Merops hirundineus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683702A92996665.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22683702/92996665. Retrieved 11 November 2021. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Fry, H.; Boesman, P.F.D. (2020). Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi et al.. eds. "Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus)". Birds of the World (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). doi:10.2173/bow.stbeat1.01. 

Template:Bee-eaters Wikidata ☰ Q576802 entry



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