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| + | '''Alternative name: Little Green Bee-eater''' | ||
| + | [[Image:Greenbeeeater 3.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Subspecies ''orientalis''<br />Photo by {{user|Scottishdude|Scottishdude}}<br /> Goa, [[India]], March 2009]] | ||
;[[:Category: Merops|Merops]] orientalis | ;[[:Category: Merops|Merops]] orientalis | ||
| − | + | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 16-18cm | + | 16-18cm (6¼-7 in) |
*Green upper parts | *Green upper parts | ||
:*Head and underpart colours vary according to subspecies | :*Head and underpart colours vary according to subspecies | ||
| Line 10: | Line 12: | ||
Sexes similar | Sexes similar | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[Image:15842Bee eaters.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''cyanophrys''<br />Photo by {{user|Simonph|Simonph}}<br />Dubai, [[UAE]], December 2004]] | ||
[[Africa]], [[Middle East]] and [[Asia]]:<br /> | [[Africa]], [[Middle East]] and [[Asia]]:<br /> | ||
'''Northern Africa''': [[Libya]], [[Egypt]]<br /> | '''Northern Africa''': [[Libya]], [[Egypt]]<br /> | ||
| Line 15: | Line 18: | ||
'''Eastern Africa''': [[Sudan]], [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]]<br /> | '''Eastern Africa''': [[Sudan]], [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]]<br /> | ||
'''Middle East''': [[Israel]], [[Jordan]], [[Arabian Peninsula]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Yemen]], [[Oman]], [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Iraq]], [[Iran]]<br /> | '''Middle East''': [[Israel]], [[Jordan]], [[Arabian Peninsula]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Yemen]], [[Oman]], [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Iraq]], [[Iran]]<br /> | ||
| − | |||
'''Asia''': [[Afghanistan]], [[China]], [[Nepal]], [[Pakistan]], [[India]], Eastern and Western [[Himalayas]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]]<br /> | '''Asia''': [[Afghanistan]], [[China]], [[Nepal]], [[Pakistan]], [[India]], Eastern and Western [[Himalayas]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]]<br /> | ||
'''Southeast Asia''': [[Indochina]], [[Myanmar]], [[Laos]], [[Vietnam]], [[Cambodia]], [[Thailand]] | '''Southeast Asia''': [[Indochina]], [[Myanmar]], [[Laos]], [[Vietnam]], [[Cambodia]], [[Thailand]] | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | [[Image:green_bee_eater_alok.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Immature, Ssp. ''orientalis''<br />Photo by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Gurgaon, Haryana, [[India]], June 2015]] | ||
There are 8 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | There are 8 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
| − | * ''M. o. viridissimus'' | + | * ''M. o. viridissimus'' : |
| − | * ''M. o. flavoviridis'' | + | :*Savanna of [[Senegal]] to [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]] and western [[Sudan]] |
| − | * ''M. o. cleopatra'' | + | * ''M. o. flavoviridis'': |
| − | * ''M. o. cyanophrys'' | + | :*Subdesert steppes of [[Chad]] to Red Sea coast of [[Sudan]] |
| − | * ''M. o. najdanus'' | + | * ''M. o. cleopatra'': |
| − | * ''M. o. beludschicus'' | + | :*Nile Valley (Lake Nasser to delta) |
| − | * ''M. o. orientalis'' | + | * ''M. o. cyanophrys'': |
| − | * ''M. o. ferrugeiceps'' | + | :*[[Arabia|Arabian]] Peninsula |
| + | * ''M. o. najdanus'': | ||
| + | :*Central Arabian plateau | ||
| + | * ''M. o. beludschicus'': | ||
| + | :*From the north end of Persian Gulf to Baluchistan and western [[India]] | ||
| + | * ''M. o. orientalis'': | ||
| + | :*From the Rann of Kutch to [[Bangladesh]] and [[Sri Lanka]] | ||
| + | * ''M. o. ferrugeiceps'': | ||
| + | :*From Assam and [[Myanmar]] to [[Vietnam]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Around water bodies, river sides, open cultivated areas, scrub forests, parks and gardens, open woodland. | Around water bodies, river sides, open cultivated areas, scrub forests, parks and gardens, open woodland. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | [[Image:Lgbe-3.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile, subspecies ''ferrugeiceps''<br />Photo by {{user|Nook|Nook}}<br />Na Ngua, Phetchabun, [[Thailand]], June 2017]] | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
They catch bees and other insects in flight and retun to the same perch to batter them to remove the sting before eating. | They catch bees and other insects in flight and retun to the same perch to batter them to remove the sting before eating. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
Nests are made in a tunnel in sandy banks. The 4 to 8 spherical white eggs are incubated by both the male and the female. | Nests are made in a tunnel in sandy banks. The 4 to 8 spherical white eggs are incubated by both the male and the female. | ||
| + | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
| + | <flashmp3>green_bee_eater_call.mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
| + | ''[[Media: green_bee_eater_call.mp3|Listen in an external program]]''<br /> | ||
| + | Recording by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br /> | ||
| + | Nazafgarh Wetlands, Gurgaon, Haryana, [[India]], March-2015<br /> | ||
| + | A pair, ssp. ''orientalis'', calling while examining a mud-embankment for possible nesting site, early summer-time. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Avibase |
#AvianWeb | #AvianWeb | ||
#BF Member observations | #BF Member observations | ||
| Line 46: | Line 64: | ||
{{Video|Green_Bee-eater}} | {{Video|Green_Bee-eater}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Merops]] [[Category:Videos]] | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Merops]] [[Category:Videos]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] |
Revision as of 07:55, 6 June 2017
Alternative name: Little Green Bee-eater
- Merops orientalis
Identification
16-18cm (6¼-7 in)
- Green upper parts
- Head and underpart colours vary according to subspecies
- Green wings
- Black beak
Sexes similar
Distribution
Africa, Middle East and Asia:
Northern Africa: Libya, Egypt
Western Africa: Mauritania, Senegambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea
Eastern Africa: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda
Middle East: Israel, Jordan, Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran
Asia: Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Eastern and Western Himalayas, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan
Southeast Asia: Indochina, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 8 subspecies[1]:
- M. o. viridissimus :
- M. o. flavoviridis:
- M. o. cleopatra:
- Nile Valley (Lake Nasser to delta)
- M. o. cyanophrys:
- Arabian Peninsula
- M. o. najdanus:
- Central Arabian plateau
- M. o. beludschicus:
- From the north end of Persian Gulf to Baluchistan and western India
- M. o. orientalis:
- From the Rann of Kutch to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
- M. o. ferrugeiceps:
Habitat
Around water bodies, river sides, open cultivated areas, scrub forests, parks and gardens, open woodland.
Behaviour
Diet
They catch bees and other insects in flight and retun to the same perch to batter them to remove the sting before eating.
Breeding
Nests are made in a tunnel in sandy banks. The 4 to 8 spherical white eggs are incubated by both the male and the female.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>green_bee_eater_call.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Recording by Alok Tewari
Nazafgarh Wetlands, Gurgaon, Haryana, India, March-2015
A pair, ssp. orientalis, calling while examining a mud-embankment for possible nesting site, early summer-time.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- AvianWeb
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Asian Green Bee-eater. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Asian_Green_Bee-eater
External Links
