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==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ||
− | + | * ''M. o. viridissimus'' in the savanna of [[Senegal]] to [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]] and w [[Sudan]] | |
− | + | * ''M. o. flavoviridis'' in the subdesert steppes of [[Chad]] to [[Red Sea]] coast of [[Sudan]] | |
− | + | * ''M. o. cleopatra'' in Nile Valley (Lake Nasser to delta) | |
− | + | * ''M. o. cyanophrys'' on the Arabian Peninsula | |
− | + | * ''M. o. najdanus'' on the central Arabian plateau | |
− | + | * ''M. o. beludschicus'' from the north end of Persian Gulf to Baluchistan and w [[India]] | |
− | + | * ''M. o. orientalis'' from the Rann of Kutch to [[Bangladesh]] and [[Sri Lanka]] | |
− | + | * ''M. o. ferrugeiceps'' from Assam and [[Myanmar]] to [[Vietnam]] | |
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Open country with bushes. | Open country with bushes. |
Revision as of 21:25, 24 July 2009
- Merops orientalis
Identification
16-18cm. Green upper parts, but the head and underpart colours vary widely depending on the subspecies. The wings are green and the beak is black. Sexes are alike.
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa, Senegal, The Gambia, Ethiopia, the Nile valley, western Arabia, Asia, India and Vietnam.
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
- M. o. viridissimus in the savanna of Senegal to Eritrea, Ethiopia and w Sudan
- M. o. flavoviridis in the subdesert steppes of Chad to Red Sea coast of Sudan
- M. o. cleopatra in Nile Valley (Lake Nasser to delta)
- M. o. cyanophrys on the Arabian Peninsula
- M. o. najdanus on the central Arabian plateau
- M. o. beludschicus from the north end of Persian Gulf to Baluchistan and w India
- M. o. orientalis from the Rann of Kutch to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
- M. o. ferrugeiceps from Assam and Myanmar to Vietnam
Habitat
Open country with bushes.
Behaviour
Diet includes insects, especially bees, wasps and ants, which are caught in the air. Before eating its meal, a bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface.
Nest are made in a tunnel in sandy banks. 4 to 8 spherical white eggs are laid and incubated by both the male and the female.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.